Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Springfield vs Bennington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroSpringfieldBennington
People
Population
12,122
1,122Lowest
15,249Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
44.7±2.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
Springfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$59,446±$7k
26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18k
23% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$213,300±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,096±$217
22% below U.S.
$1,133±$63Highest
20% below U.S.
Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brattleboro and Springfield 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 #33 of 70 in VT — #58 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School — Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
—
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.