Compare towns
Chester vs Plainfield vs Berlin 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
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Berlin | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,522Lowest |
2,880 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Berlin 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Berlin 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Plainfield School District | 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 | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.