Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Springfield vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Hampton | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
16,426Highest |
9,084 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Berlin 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Berlin 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. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Berlin 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Springfield 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Winnacunnet High School | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
10.1 |
14.3Highest |
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| 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.