Compare towns
Chester vs Wright vs Springfield vs Ludlow
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%).
Wright has the highest household income ($86k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Wright | Springfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,739Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Wright 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% |
16.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Wright 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% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Chester 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 U.S. |
$86,250±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Wright 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. |
$242,000±$36k 27% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$953±$79Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,279Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Ludlow 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow 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 | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| 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 | 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.