Compare towns
Chester vs Highgate vs Springfield vs Ludlow
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 most homeowners (86.7%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Springfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
3,528 |
9,084Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow 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 VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Highgate 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±$44k 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Ludlow 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.8 |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.