Compare towns
Springfield vs Washington vs Swanton
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 the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (23 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 | Washington | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,208Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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 U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Washington 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 42% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Washington 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 | Washington School District | 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 |
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.