Compare towns

Springfield vs Dummerston vs Williston 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).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.

MeasureSpringfieldDummerstonWillistonCharlestown
People
Population
9,084
2,090Lowest
10,144Highest
4,889
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
41.6±8.5Lowest
7% above U.S.
Dummerston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
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%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
12.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Charlestown 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.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$47,338±$23kLowest
41% below U.S.
Williston and Dummerston 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.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$228,000±$62k
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,099±$85
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$5,143
65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
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%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Williston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT #113 of 120 in NH
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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
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On TownTapestry
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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.