Compare towns
Springfield vs Mapleton vs Bennington vs Charlestown
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Charlestown has the most expensive homes ($228k median).
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 | Mapleton | Bennington | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
1,884Lowest |
15,249Highest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Springfield 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62kHighest 31% below U.S. |
| Charlestown 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Charlestown 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$5,143Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Charlestown 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.