Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Springfield vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (67.7%).
Bennington has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Brattleboro | Springfield | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,657Lowest |
9,084 |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
| Springfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,600±$20kHighest 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
| Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$67 10% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,490Highest 9% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest 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 | 21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1961Highest 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
17 min 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.