Compare towns
Bennington vs Springfield vs Wells vs Barre
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
9,084 |
11,713 |
8,412Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Wells 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Wells and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Springfield High School | Wells High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
14.3 |
11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.