Compare towns
Albany vs Springfield vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($389k 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 | Albany | Springfield | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±9.7 20% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Albany and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,639±$19k 16% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,300±$68k 25% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$112 15% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Madison and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,554Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.2%±97.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±18.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Albany 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 | — |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.