Compare towns
Springfield vs Berlin vs Ira
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,880 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Berlin 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% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Berlin and Ira 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±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Berlin 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest 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 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #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.