Compare towns
Wilder vs Springfield vs Bennington vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k 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 | Wilder | Springfield | Bennington | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
9,084 |
15,249Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
— |
| Wilder and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest 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 | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
17 min 27% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 History | 6 photos → | 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.