Compare towns
Springfield vs Lyons 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
Lyons has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Lyons | Bennington | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
5,594 |
15,249Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.1±5.4Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester 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% |
25.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyons 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 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. |
$74,524±$12kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Lyons 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±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$98,400±$12kLowest 70% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Chester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$920±$111Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,998Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.6%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
14.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±8.3Lowest 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 | #388 of 484 in NY | #58 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
9.5 |
14.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.