Compare towns
Springfield vs Unity vs Bennington vs Swanton
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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Unity | Bennington | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
1,375Lowest |
15,249Highest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Swanton 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Unity 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Unity and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,449Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Unity School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.