Compare towns
Chester vs Addison vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Chester | Addison | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,175Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Addison and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
40.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Addison and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4Lowest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school 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.