Compare towns
Springfield vs Union vs Chapman 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Union | Chapman | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
2,663 |
388Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Chapman 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% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Union 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% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Chapman 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. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
| Union and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
| Union and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | 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 | 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.