Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Springfield vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Chesterfield has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Brattleboro | Springfield | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
9,084 |
3,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 83% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.