Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% 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 | Springfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084Highest |
2,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Chester and Springfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$66,607±$27kHighest 18% below VT |
| Swanton 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±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Chester and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Swanton 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Chester 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 |
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.