Compare towns
Dummerston vs Reading vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Dummerston | Reading | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090 |
699Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
| Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
| Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Reading 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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.