Compare towns
Chester vs Fairlee vs Springfield vs Brandon
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%).
Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Fairlee | Springfield | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,066Lowest |
9,084Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Fairlee and Brandon 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Springfield 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Fairlee and Springfield 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Fairlee and Chester 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 |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Fairlee and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Fairlee 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 | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.