Compare towns
Brandon vs Plainfield vs Springfield vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Leicester has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Brandon | Plainfield | Springfield | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,314 |
9,084Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Brandon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Leicester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$70,417±$30kHighest 13% below VT |
| Leicester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$309,700±$107k about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
| Plainfield and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.