Compare towns
Chester vs Mendon vs Worcester vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Mendon | Worcester | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,113 |
831Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Mendon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Mendon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Mendon 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.