Compare towns
Exeter vs Chester vs Richfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).
Richfield has the most affordable homes ($146k median).
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 | Exeter | Chester | Richfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,949 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
37±7.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$59,833±$14kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$146,400±$15kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$802±$72Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,207Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±18.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Richfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.

