Compare towns

Rutland vs Bennington vs Springfield vs St. Albans

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rutland has the oldest population (median age 49).
Springfield has the most homeowners (67.7%).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

MeasureRutlandBenningtonSpringfieldSt. Albans
People
Population
15,712Highest
15,249
9,084
6,954Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49±2.1Highest
14% above VT
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
38.7±2Lowest
10% below VT
Rutland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±2.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±3.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
St. Albans and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.2%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.2%±2.8
VT: 21.4%
23.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Rutland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.4%
VT: 43.8%
36.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
31.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.6
VT: 7%
Bennington and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,675±$8kLowest
29% below VT
$59,446±$7k
27% below VT
$66,571±$13kHighest
18% below VT
$57,980±$7k
29% 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
$185,500±$16kLowest
41% below VT
$213,300±$15k
33% below VT
$192,400±$20k
39% below VT
$263,400±$18kHighest
17% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$995±$65
19% below VT
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
$963±$100Lowest
22% below VT
$1,150±$78Highest
7% below VT
St. Albans and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,657
8% below VT
$4,513
10% below VT
$4,807Highest
5% below VT
$4,436Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±8.2
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
49.6%±15.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
51.8%±11.8
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.3%
VT: 10.1%
13.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.8%
VT: 10.1%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.9%
VT: 73.2%
58.4%
VT: 73.2%
67.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
49%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1961Highest
15 yrs older than VT
1958
18 yrs older than VT
1945
31 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
16 minLowest
32% below VT
17 min
27% below VT
27 minHighest
16% above VT
23 min
4% below VT
Work from home
8.1%±2.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #51 of 70 in VT #58 of 70 in VT #64 of 70 in VT #46 of 70 in VT
School district Rutland City School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town Rutland Senior High School Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School Springfield High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3
14.7Highest
14.3
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.