Compare towns
Chester vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Highgate | Sheldon | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Chester and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Springfield 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.8 |
— | 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.