Compare towns
Springfield vs Lyndon vs Chester 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).
Lyndon has the highest household income ($69k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Lyndon | Chester | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
5,590 |
2,992Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$68,786±$6kHighest 15% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Lyndon 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 39% below VT |
$227,000±$21k 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,096±$123 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
| Bennington and Lyndon 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 |
$3,846Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
55.7%±15.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | #44 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | 8.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.