Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Whitingham vs Brandon
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 renters (32.3% rent).
Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Whitingham | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084Highest |
1,368Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
| Brandon 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%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Chester 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Brandon 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 |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Whitingham 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 |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Whitingham 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±$100 22% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
| Brandon 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Springfield 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% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School | Twin Valley Middle High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
14.3Highest |
7.8Lowest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.