What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Bennington	Springfield
People
Population	1,336Highest	1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±10Lowest 13% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	21.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,571±$10kLowest 15% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,000±$40kLowest 6% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Springfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,447±$278Highest about the U.S. average	$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S.
	North Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,590Lowest 79% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±26.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	17.3%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.