Compare towns
Chester vs Jay vs Salisbury vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($100k).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Jay | Salisbury | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
471Lowest |
1,200 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Salisbury 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Salisbury 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Springfield 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Salisbury and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Salisbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | 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 | 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.