Compare towns

Springfield vs Putney 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 the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldPutneyCharlestown
People
Population
9,084Highest
2,622Lowest
4,889
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7Highest
11% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
41.6±8.5
7% above U.S.
Springfield and Charlestown 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%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Charlestown 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Springfield and Charlestown 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%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
12.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the U.S. average
$47,338±$23kLowest
41% below U.S.
Putney 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.
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$228,000±$62k
31% below U.S.
Putney and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,099±$85Highest
22% below U.S.
Charlestown and Springfield 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.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$5,143
65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±24.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Charlestown and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney 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 #32 of 70 in VT #113 of 120 in NH
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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
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On TownTapestry
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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.