Compare towns
Bennington vs Springfield vs Wardsboro vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k median).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Wardsboro | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
9,084 |
820Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Wardsboro 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Barre 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 27% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Springfield and Barre 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Wardsboro 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
14.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.