Compare towns
Springfield vs Dover vs Dummerston 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Charlestown has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Dover | Dummerston | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,466Lowest |
2,090 |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dummerston 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Dummerston 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% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Dover 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 U.S. |
$52,313±$7k 35% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,143Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Springfield 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Dover 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 | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.