Compare towns
Johnson vs Springfield vs Waterville
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 the youngest population (median age 30.9).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Johnson | Springfield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
1,122 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Waterville 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%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Waterville 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. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Springfield 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. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Johnson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.