Compare towns
Springfield vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084 |
3,216Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$215,700±$24kHighest 35% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bennington 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. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | White Mountains Regional 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 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.