Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Wolcott
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Springfield 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Wolcott 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 |
$70,259±$10kHighest 13% below VT |
| Wolcott 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±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Chester and Wolcott 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 |
$1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott 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 |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Wolcott School District |
| 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.