Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Springfield vs Ludlow
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 most homeowners (86.7%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($370k median).
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 | Dover | Springfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,466Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
| Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Chester 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow 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±$8k 23% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Ludlow 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 Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.