Compare towns

Springfield vs Chesterfield 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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($374k 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.

MeasureSpringfieldChesterfieldBennington
People
Population
9,084
3,622Lowest
15,249Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
46.8±8.7Highest
20% above U.S.
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
Chesterfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Chesterfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.8%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Chesterfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$102,370±$40kHighest
27% above U.S.
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
Chesterfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
$373,500±$33kHighest
12% above U.S.
$213,300±$15k
36% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,324±$1kHighest
6% below U.S.
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
Chesterfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$6,344Highest
103% above U.S.
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Chesterfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Chesterfield 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 #64 of 70 in VT #52 of 120 in NH #58 of 70 in VT
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Chesterfield School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town Springfield High School None in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Lowest
—
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.