Compare towns
Barre vs Chester vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% 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 | Barre | Chester | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
2,992Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest 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+ | 21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Barre and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 6% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Chester 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
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.