Compare towns
Springfield vs Newfields vs Bennington vs Swanton
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Newfields | Bennington | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
2,023Lowest |
15,249Highest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Bennington 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,449Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Newfields School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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 | 6 photos → | 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.