Compare towns
Springfield vs Sheffield vs Worcester vs Newport
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
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 | Sheffield | Worcester | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
573Lowest |
831 |
4,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
46.4±4.3 8% above VT |
| Worcester and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Sheffield 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 |
$58,333±$26k 28% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Worcester 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$179,400±$11k 43% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
| Worcester and Sheffield 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | 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 | 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.