What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k median).

Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

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	Jefferson	Springfield
People
Population	1,013Lowest	9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.	43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.	$963±$100Highest 32% below U.S.
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S.	$4,807Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson 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	—	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	—	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.