Compare towns
Lyndon vs Springfield vs Chester vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the highest household income ($69k).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k 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 | Lyndon | Springfield | Chester | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,590 |
9,084Highest |
2,992Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Lyndon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6kHighest 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Lyndon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21k 28% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123Highest 11% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Lyndon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Green Mountain Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.