Compare towns
Berlin vs Springfield vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Berlin | Springfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
9,084Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Berlin and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.