Compare towns
Jefferson vs Springfield vs Washington
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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Springfield 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. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Jefferson 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. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Washington 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. |
$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Washington and Springfield 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. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | Washington 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.