Compare towns
Chester vs Lee 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).
Lee has the highest household income ($132k).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,576 |
9,084Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Chester 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Lee and Windham 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. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $963±$100Highest 32% below U.S. |
— |
| Springfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest 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. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → | 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.