Compare towns
Chester vs Exeter vs Andover vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Exeter | Andover | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
16,151Highest |
616Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Exeter High School | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.