Compare towns
Springfield vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
648Lowest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Charlestown 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
61.1%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% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown 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±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Springfield 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 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% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Nelson School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.