Compare towns
Pownal vs Springfield vs Petersburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Petersburgh has the highest household income ($78k).
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 | Pownal | Springfield | Petersburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
9,084Highest |
1,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.3±6.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Petersburgh and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$77,692±$15kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Petersburgh and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$170,300±$23kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,100±$630Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Petersburgh and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560 14% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,223Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.2%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.