Compare towns
Chester vs Cabot vs Windham vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Cabot | Windham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,579 |
594Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 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+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Springfield 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 |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Windham and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Windham and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
— | $963±$100 22% below VT |
| Cabot and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot and Windham 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 | 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.