Compare towns
Swanton vs Bennington vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Swanton | Bennington | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,820Lowest |
15,249Highest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Bennington and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Swanton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
| Swanton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 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 | 13%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
14.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.