Compare towns
Chester vs Lancaster vs Springfield vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Lancaster | Springfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
3,216 |
9,084Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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 U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | White Mountains Regional 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 |
U.S. 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.