Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
9,084 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.