Compare towns
Springfield vs Castleton vs Worcester vs Charlestown
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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Worcester | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
4,453 |
831Lowest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton 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±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,143Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Charlestown 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | 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 |
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.