Compare towns
Appleton vs Springfield vs Searsmont vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Appleton | Springfield | Searsmont | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
9,084Highest |
1,646 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$87,000±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$940±$311 33% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,788 11% below U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Searsmont 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 | Appleton Public Schools | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | RSU 71 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.