Compare towns
Springfield vs Wilder vs Barre
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Wilder | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
3,087Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Wilder and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Barre 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 VT |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
| Wilder 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 39% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Wilder and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Wilder 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 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | — | 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 |
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.