Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Windham vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Springfield | Windham | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,122 |
594Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Brandon 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Windham 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%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Brandon 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. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Windham 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Brandon 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. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Windham 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| 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.