Compare towns
Springfield vs Reading vs Worcester 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.
| Measure | Springfield | Reading | Worcester | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
699Lowest |
831 |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%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% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Charlestown 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. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Reading and Worcester 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Reading and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Reading 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 | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | 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 | 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.