What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newport has the shortest commute (15 min average).

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	Newport	Springfield
People
Population	4,394Lowest	9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT	43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average
	Newport and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Springfield and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4%	23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Newport and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Highest VT: 7%	2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Newport and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT	$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT
	Springfield and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT	$192,400±$20kHighest 39% below VT
	Springfield and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT	$963±$100Highest 22% below VT
	Springfield and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,036Lowest 20% below VT	$4,807Highest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Springfield and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23%Highest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	67.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT	1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 38% below VT	27 minHighest 16% above VT
Work from home	16.8%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%	15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Newport 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	#63 of 70 in VT	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	North Country Union High School	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.