Compare towns
Shaftsbury 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
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Shaftsbury | Springfield | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607 |
1,122Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±6.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,079±$54Lowest 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 | $4,015Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Bennington 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 | #62 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.