Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Ogunquit vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Brandon | Chester | Ogunquit | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
2,992 |
1,379Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.