Compare towns
Springfield vs Mendon vs Bennington vs Swanton
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Swanton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Bennington | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
1,113Lowest |
15,249Highest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Swanton 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bennington 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
17 min 27% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | — | 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 |
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.