Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Wolfeboro vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Wolfeboro | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
9,084Highest |
6,571 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Wolfeboro 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 U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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 30% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.1 |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.