Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Springfield vs Grafton
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 the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Hampton | Springfield | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,145 |
9,084Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton 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 U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$76,111±$7kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Hampton 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. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Chester 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±$375 11% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Hampton 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,843Highest 55% 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% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.