Compare towns
Jefferson vs Springfield vs Unity vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Jefferson | Springfield | Unity | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013 |
9,084Highest |
1,375 |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 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±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$71,042±$17k 12% below U.S. |
| Unity and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$311,100±$66kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Jefferson 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±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,147±$81 19% below U.S. |
| Unity and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,981Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyman and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | Unity School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.