Compare towns
Springfield vs Middlesex vs Northfield
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Middlesex | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Middlesex and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.