Compare towns
Springfield vs Sheldon vs Franklin vs St. Johnsbury
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 oldest population (median age 43.2).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
St. Johnsbury has the shortest commute (20 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 | Sheldon | Franklin | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,267 |
1,590Lowest |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
42.8±3.8 about the VT average |
| Springfield and St. Johnsbury 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and St. Johnsbury 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
| Franklin and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$914±$44 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Springfield 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,916 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and St. Johnsbury 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and St. Johnsbury 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 | — | — | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | 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 |
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.