Compare towns

Bennington vs Springfield vs Whiting

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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).

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.

MeasureBenningtonSpringfieldWhiting
People
Population
15,249Highest
9,084
532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
44.7±2.3Highest
4% above VT
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
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%
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Springfield 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%
13%±5.1Lowest
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%
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
Whiting and Bennington 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±$13k
18% below VT
$91,250±$38kHighest
12% above VT
Whiting 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
33% below VT
$192,400±$20kLowest
39% below VT
$280,400±$36kHighest
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
$963±$100Lowest
22% below VT
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
Whiting 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
$4,227Lowest
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
49.6%±15.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Whiting 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%
11.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
67.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
65.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
15 yrs older than VT
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
27 minHighest
16% above VT
22 min
7% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
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 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
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

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.