Compare towns
Springfield vs Berlin vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,880 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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 VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Brookline 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 VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.