Compare towns
Chester vs Ira vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Ira | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
381Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Ira and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Chester 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Ira 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% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Ira 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 |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Ira and Chester 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester 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 |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.