Compare towns
Bennington vs Sandgate vs Springfield vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most expensive homes ($213k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Rutland has the shortest commute (16 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bennington | Sandgate | Springfield | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249 |
435Lowest |
9,084 |
15,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
49±2.1 14% above VT |
| Sandgate and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rutland and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$69,167±$19kHighest 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
| Sandgate and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kHighest 33% below VT |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
| Bennington and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
— | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$995±$65 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,657 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±8.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
15.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 15 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #51 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Rutland City School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | Springfield High School | Rutland Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.3 |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.