Compare towns
Bennington vs Springfield vs Whitingham
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).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
9,084 |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below VT |
| Whitingham 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 |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Springfield High School | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
14.3 |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.