Compare towns
Springfield vs Appleton vs Swanton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Swanton has the highest household income ($81k).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Springfield | Appleton | Swanton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,360Lowest |
6,820 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133Highest 11% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Appleton Public Schools | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.