Compare towns
Springfield vs Dover 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 homeowners (67.7%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Springfield | Dover | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Lowest |
33,364Highest |
15,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Bennington 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Bennington 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. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Dover School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Dover Senior High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
12.7Lowest |
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.