Compare towns
Chester vs Jay vs Windham 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%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Windham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
471Lowest |
594 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%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 |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Windham 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Springfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest 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% |
0.8%±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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above 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% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Windham 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% 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 |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | — | 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 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.