Compare towns
Springfield vs Swanton vs Westminster
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).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Swanton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
6,820 |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Swanton and Westminster 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 |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Swanton and Westminster 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 |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Westminster 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% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #27 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.