Compare towns
Springfield vs Sunderland 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Sunderland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Swanton has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Sunderland | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,269Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
40.8±2.8Lowest 5% below VT |
43.7±5.5Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sunderland 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% |
16.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Swanton 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% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Sunderland and Swanton 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 |
$88,523±$16kHighest 9% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Sunderland and Swanton 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 |
$300,000±$43kHighest 5% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Sunderland 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 |
$1,413±$242Highest 15% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Sunderland and Swanton 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 |
$4,136Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
51.5%±61.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sunderland and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Sunderland 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.