Compare towns

Springfield vs Clay 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).
Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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.

MeasureSpringfieldClayBennington
People
Population
9,084Lowest
59,995Highest
15,249
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
39.8±1Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.7±2.3Highest
15% above U.S.
Bennington and Springfield 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%
20.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Clay and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bennington and Springfield 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%
38.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$90,707±$6kHighest
12% above U.S.
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
$205,900±$6k
38% below U.S.
$213,300±$15kHighest
36% below U.S.
Bennington and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,240±$40Highest
12% below U.S.
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$5,087Highest
63% above U.S.
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
46.6%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Springfield 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%
8.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #64 of 70 in VT #249 of 484 in NY #58 of 70 in VT
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town Springfield High School LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3
14.0Lowest
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.