Compare towns
Springfield vs Unity vs Mapleton 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Unity | Mapleton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
1,375Lowest |
1,884 |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest 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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
| Unity and Bennington 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | 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.