Compare towns
Benson 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
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
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 | Benson | Chester | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,992 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Benson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Benson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Benson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.