Compare towns
Springfield vs Berlin vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Berlin has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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.
| Measure | Springfield | Berlin | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,960Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.3±5.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Swanton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Swanton 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$80,313±$25k about the U.S. average |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Swanton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$214,600±$22k 35% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,160±$309 18% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Berlin 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. |
$3,518Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.7%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Berlin 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 | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | BERLIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | BERLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
8.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.