Compare towns
Springfield vs Calais vs Worcester vs St. Johnsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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.
| Measure | Springfield | Calais | Worcester | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,713 |
831Lowest |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.8±3.8 about the VT average |
| Worcester 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 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 |
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.