Compare towns
Chester vs Jamaica vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Jamaica | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
882Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Jamaica 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% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest 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%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica 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% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Jamaica 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 |
$79,219±$19kHighest about the VT average |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Jamaica 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 |
$347,800±$50kHighest 10% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% 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 | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.