Compare towns
Springfield vs Brandon 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 people working from home (15.1%).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Brandon | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
4,120 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon 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% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Brandon 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 VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
| Ira 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±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Brandon 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 |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Brandon 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% |
14.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Brandon 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Otter Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.