Compare towns
Bennington vs Springfield vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
9,084 |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole 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 36% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
14.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.