Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs White River Junction
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
9,084Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% 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%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
| White River Junction and Chester 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — |
| 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.