Compare towns
Bennington vs Springfield vs Wheelock
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).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
9,084 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Wheelock 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 |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Springfield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kHighest 33% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — |
| 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 Our Story | 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.