Compare towns
Chester vs Jericho vs Plainfield vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jericho has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Jericho | Plainfield | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
5,114 |
1,314Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and Springfield 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% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Jericho 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 |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Plainfield 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
13.0 |
— | 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.