Compare towns
St. Johnsbury vs Wheelock vs Springfield vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
St. Johnsbury has the most kids (21% under 18).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($67k).
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 | St. Johnsbury | Wheelock | Springfield | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,368 |
717Lowest |
9,084 |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Wheelock and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
| Springfield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$213,300±$15kHighest 33% below VT |
| Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,916 22% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 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 | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.6% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and St. Johnsbury 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 | #60 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | — | — | Springfield High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.