Compare towns
Springfield vs Highgate vs Proctor vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Highgate | Proctor | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
3,528 |
1,794Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
| Bennington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Proctor 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 VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
| Bennington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
9.8 |
8.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.