Compare towns
Springfield vs Unity vs Washburn 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 youngest population (median age 43.2).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Washburn | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
1,375 |
1,355Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7 24% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Washburn 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Washburn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 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% |
26% 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% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Washburn 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. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Unity and Springfield 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. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% 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. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% 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. |
$1,571Lowest 50% 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% |
33.3%±24.7Lowest 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% |
12.7% 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% |
78.2% 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. |
1969 11 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. |
21 min 21% below 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% |
9.7%±3.9 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 45/MSAD 45 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Washburn District High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | 12.0Lowest |
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.