Compare towns
Franklin vs Proctor vs Springfield vs Berkshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Franklin | Proctor | Springfield | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
1,794 |
9,084Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
| Franklin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Franklin and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
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.