Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Brandon 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Hampton | Brandon | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,145Lowest |
4,120 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Hampton 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. |
$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
| Chester and Brandon 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. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Chester 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | 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 |
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.