Compare towns
Chester vs Glover vs Brandon vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Glover has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Glover | Brandon | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,051Lowest |
4,120 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
48.4±5.9 12% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Brandon and Chester 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% |
22.3%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Glover and Brandon 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% |
24.2%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Glover 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% |
35.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Glover 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 |
$73,839±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Glover 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 |
$264,700±$34kHighest 16% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Glover 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 |
$973±$130 21% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Brandon and Glover 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 |
$3,234Lowest 36% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.3%±64.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Brandon 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Glover and Springfield 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.9 |
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.