Compare towns
Springfield vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084 |
1,372Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
| Bennington and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | 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.