Compare towns
Chester vs Lee vs Springfield
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 most homeowners (86.7%).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
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 | Lee | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
5,719 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Lee 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 30% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Springfield 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lee | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Lee Middle/High School | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.2 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.