Compare towns
Springfield vs Unity vs Barre
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Barre has the shortest commute (19 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 | Unity | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,375Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Barre 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Springfield 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Unity 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±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Unity and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Barre 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Unity School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Spaulding 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 |
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.