Compare towns
Chester vs Winchester vs Springfield
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%).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
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 | Winchester | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
4,212 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.6±4.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Winchester 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. |
$67,723±$11kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Winchester 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. |
$242,900±$20kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Winchester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,209±$143Highest 14% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,314Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Winchester 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% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #120 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Winchester School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.