What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Springfield
People
Population	10,736Highest	9,084Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9 about the VT average	43.2±3.7 about the VT average
Kids under 18	18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Springfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	Springfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Hartford and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT
	Hartford and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT	$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average	$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 15% above VT	$4,807Lowest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Springfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT	1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	27 minHighest 16% above VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Springfield and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	Hartford School District	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.