Compare towns
Springfield vs Newfields vs Chester vs Bennington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Newfields | Chester | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
2,023Lowest |
2,992 |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% 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% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±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. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% 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% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Newfields School District | 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 | 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.