Compare towns
Springfield vs Proctor vs Brookline 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 renters (32.3% rent).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Proctor | Brookline | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,794 |
531Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Swanton 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Proctor 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Brookline 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Brookline 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 |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Brookline and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Brookline 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.