Compare towns
Springfield vs Dunbarton vs Bennington vs Chester
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).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Dunbarton | Bennington | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
3,097 |
15,249Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Chester 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. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | #33 of 120 in NH | #58 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Dunbarton School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | 14.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.