Compare towns
Springfield vs Westminster vs Charlestown
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%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Westminster | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,999Lowest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Charlestown 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. |
$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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. |
$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Charlestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$5,143Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.