Compare towns
Chester vs Windham vs Springfield 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Windham | Springfield | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
16,038Highest |
9,084 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Windham High School | Springfield High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.8 |
14.3Highest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.