Compare towns

Springfield vs Ryegate 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).
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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.

MeasureSpringfieldRyegateBennington
People
Population
9,084
1,059Lowest
15,249Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
41.2±2.6Lowest
4% below VT
44.7±2.3Highest
4% above VT
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
VT: 17.9%
23.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Ryegate 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%
22.1%±1.5Lowest
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%
29.1%
VT: 43.8%
36.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13kHighest
18% below VT
$66,484±$15k
18% below VT
$59,446±$7kLowest
27% below VT
Springfield and Ryegate 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
$219,300±$32kHighest
31% below VT
$213,300±$15k
33% below VT
Ryegate and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100
22% below VT
$908±$236Lowest
26% below VT
$1,133±$63Highest
8% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807Highest
5% below VT
$3,472Lowest
31% below VT
$4,513
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
55.9%±29.7
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Ryegate 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%
14.5%
VT: 10.1%
13.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
18 yrs older than VT
1949Lowest
27 yrs older than VT
1961Highest
15 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
16% above VT
28 minHighest
18% above VT
17 minLowest
27% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±5.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 — Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town Springfield High School — Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Lowest
—
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.