Compare towns
Putney vs Springfield vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Putney | Springfield | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
9,084Highest |
1,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Putney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Putney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Putney 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.