Compare towns
Ira vs Sheldon vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Ira | Sheldon | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
2,267 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Ira and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Ira and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school 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.