Compare towns
Pownal vs Springfield vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Pownal | Springfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
9,084Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Springfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Pownal and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.