Compare towns
Springfield vs Williston 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084 |
10,144Highest |
8,412Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.