Compare towns
Chester vs Moriah 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 most homeowners (86.7%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Moriah | Springfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,483 |
9,084Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Moriah and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Windham 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%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah 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% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Springfield 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. |
$63,113±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$832±$165Lowest 41% 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. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Moriah 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% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% 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. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #380 of 484 in NY | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
8.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.