Compare towns

Springfield vs Washington vs Wheelock

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 renters (32.3% rent).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldWashingtonWheelock
People
Population
9,084Highest
1,056
717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%
VT: +2.8%
-0.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
52.9±5.1Highest
23% above VT
51±5.6
18% above VT
Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Wheelock and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wheelock and Washington 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%
31%
VT: 43.8%
34.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±2
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13kHighest
18% below VT
$66,103±$8k
19% below VT
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
Springfield and Washington 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
$217,700±$37kHighest
31% below VT
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
Washington and Springfield 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
$996±$285Highest
19% below VT
—
Washington 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
$3,485
31% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
34.5%±63.6
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Springfield and Washington 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%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
16% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock 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 — —
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 —
High school in town Springfield High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3
— —
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.