Compare towns
Berlin vs Springfield vs Ira vs Clarendon
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 highest household income ($87k).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
9,084Highest |
381Lowest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.2%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 |
52.3±4.1 21% above VT |
| Ira and Clarendon 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% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Clarendon 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% |
25.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest 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±$13k 18% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% 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 |
$220,900±$32k 30% 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 |
$1,096±$305 11% below VT |
| Berlin and Clarendon 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% 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% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% 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 |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below 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% |
9.1%±4.4 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 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.