Compare towns
Chester vs Ogunquit vs Andover 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
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Andover | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,379 |
616Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Chester 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Andover 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Springfield 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Springfield 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Andover 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 | 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.