Compare towns
Chester vs Dorset 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).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Dorset | Windham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,092 |
594Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Dorset and Windham 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $963±$100 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Springfield 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.