Compare towns
Chester vs Reading vs Pownal vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Pownal 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 | Reading | Pownal | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
699Lowest |
3,265 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Reading and Springfield 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Pownal 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | 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 History | 6 photos → | 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.