Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
| Westminster 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±$44k 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Westminster 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%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 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.