Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Williston vs Ludlow
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).
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
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 | Williston | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084 |
10,144Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Springfield 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Ludlow 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.