Compare towns
Plainfield vs Springfield vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Springfield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
9,084Highest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Barre and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1958Highest 18 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.