Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Washington
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 expensive homes ($233k median).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Washington 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Washington 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Washington 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±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
| Springfield and Washington 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 |
$217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
| Chester and Washington 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 |
$996±$285Highest 19% below VT |
| Washington 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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 |
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.