Compare towns

Johnson vs Springfield vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Northfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureJohnsonSpringfieldNorthfield
People
Population
3,450
1,122Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
30.9±6.5Lowest
21% below U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
36.4±4.1
6% below U.S.
Kids under 18
22.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Johnson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
10.8%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Northfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$71,768±$13k
11% below U.S.
Springfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Highest
22% below U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
Springfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,310Lowest
6% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±20.8
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
26% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
8.8%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield and Northfield 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 #57 of 70 in VT — #42 of 70 in VT
School district Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A — Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town — Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.