Compare towns
Chester vs Lowell vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Lowell | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,070Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Chester and Springfield 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
| Chester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Lowell 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Chester 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 | Lowell 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 |
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.