Compare towns
Springfield vs Proctor vs Worcester vs Bennington
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).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Proctor | Worcester | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
1,794 |
831Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Proctor and Worcester 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 |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
| Bennington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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 |
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.