Compare towns
Chester vs Hooksett vs Springfield vs Pownal
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pownal 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 | Hooksett | Springfield | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,084 |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Chester and Pownal 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Pownal 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Pownal 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 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. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hooksett School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | 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.