Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Walpole vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Walpole | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084Highest |
3,690 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Chester and Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Walpole 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% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Walpole 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. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole 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. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole 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. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Walpole and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% 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% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.