Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainfield vs Newport
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Newport has the shortest commute (15 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 | Plainfield | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Newport 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newport 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Newport 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$54,646±$12kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$179,400±$11kLowest 46% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$850±$49Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,036Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Newport 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Plainfield School District | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.