Compare towns
Springfield vs Windham vs Northfield
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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Windham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
594Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Windham and Northfield 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
| Northfield and Springfield 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.