Compare towns
Brandon vs Pownal vs Springfield
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%).
Pownal has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Pownal | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
3,265Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Brandon and Pownal 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% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 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±$12k 21% below VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
| Springfield and Brandon 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 |
$256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Pownal and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Brandon and Springfield 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 |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Pownal 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.