Compare towns
Wheelock vs Springfield vs Bennington vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($67k).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Wheelock | Springfield | Bennington | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
9,084 |
15,249Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Wheelock and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% 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 | $189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$213,300±$15kHighest 33% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% 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 | — | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 42% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Springfield 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 | — | #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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| 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.