Compare towns
Bennington vs Sheldon vs Springfield vs Pownal
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pownal has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Sheldon | Springfield | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,267Lowest |
9,084 |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
49±9.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Pownal and Bennington 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Springfield 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
28.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
| Sheldon 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±$15k 33% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Sheldon and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Springfield 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.