Compare towns
Springfield vs Lincoln 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($365k median).
Swanton has the shortest commute (23 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 | Lincoln | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,394Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±3.6Highest 6% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Lincoln and Swanton 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% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Lincoln 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% |
43.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Swanton and Lincoln 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 |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Lincoln and Swanton 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 |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Lincoln 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% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln 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 | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Lincoln Town 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 |
— | — |
| 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.