Compare towns

Springfield vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs St. Johnsbury

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
St. Johnsbury has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldAppletonMapletonSt. Johnsbury
People
Population
9,084Highest
1,360Lowest
1,884
7,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
49.2±7.4Highest
26% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.8±3.8
10% above U.S.
Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
St. Johnsbury and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$57,738±$9k
28% below U.S.
Mapleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20k
42% below U.S.
$235,600±$33kHighest
29% below U.S.
$191,800±$23k
42% below U.S.
$177,700±$17kLowest
47% below U.S.
Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$1,104±$82Highest
22% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$914±$44
35% below U.S.
Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$3,916
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±11
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
St. Johnsbury 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 — — #60 of 70 in VT
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Appleton Public Schools RSU 79/MSAD 01 —
High school in town Springfield High School None in town None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3
— — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.