Compare towns
Bennington vs Springfield vs Stratton vs St. Johnsbury
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).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
St. Johnsbury has the most people working from home (17.6%).
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 | Springfield | Stratton | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
9,084 |
532Lowest |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.8±3.8 about the VT average |
| Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and St. Johnsbury 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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 | — | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Springfield High School | — | — |
| 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.