Compare towns
Westminster vs Springfield vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Westminster | Springfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
9,084Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Springfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.