What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).

Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Springfield
People
Population	431Lowest	9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.3% VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT	43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average
	Athens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Springfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	Springfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Highest VT: 7%	2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Athens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,438±$30kHighest 16% below VT	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT
	Athens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT	$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT
	Athens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT	$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT
	Athens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,438Highest 8% above VT	$4,807Lowest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4%	49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Springfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT	1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 53% above VT	27 minLowest 16% above VT
Work from home	19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%	15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Athens 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
High school in town	—	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.