Compare towns
Barre vs Springfield vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Barre | Springfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412 |
9,084Highest |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
| Sutton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$71,250±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
| Sutton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$231,100±$41kHighest 27% below VT |
| Sutton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
— |
| Barre and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Sutton 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.