Compare towns
Chester vs Gorham vs Springfield vs Windham
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%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Gorham | Springfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,682 |
9,084Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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 U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$963±$100Highest 32% below U.S. |
— |
| Springfield and Chester 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. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Windham 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Gorham High School | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.0 |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.