Compare towns

Putney vs Springfield vs Berlin

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

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.

MeasurePutneySpringfieldBerlin
People
Population
2,622
1,122Lowest
2,880Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Berlin and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$86,691±$21k
7% above U.S.
Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$273,600±$31kLowest
18% below U.S.
Springfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,096±$217
22% below U.S.
$1,169±$171Highest
17% below U.S.
Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney 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 #32 of 70 in VT — #16 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.