Compare towns
Springfield vs Derby vs Swanton
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%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Derby | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
4,537Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby 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% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Swanton and Springfield 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 |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Derby 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 |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Derby 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 |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Derby 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% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Derby 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
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| 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.