Compare towns
Springfield vs Orwell vs St. Johnsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
St. Johnsbury has the shortest commute (20 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 | Orwell | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,294Lowest |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
42.8±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Orwell and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
| St. Johnsbury and Orwell 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 VT |
$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
| Orwell 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±$20k 39% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Orwell and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,916 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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 | — | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | 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.