Compare towns
Chester vs Massena 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%).
Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k median).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
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 | Massena | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
10,238Highest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Massena 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% |
20.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Massena 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 U.S. |
$51,458±$7kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 30% below U.S. |
$94,400±$15kLowest 72% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
| 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 32% below U.S. |
$722±$44Lowest 49% 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 | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,218Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena 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% |
24.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | 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 |
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.