Compare towns
Springfield vs Berlin vs Newburgh 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).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Berlin | Newburgh | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,880 |
1,475Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.8±5.7 18% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester 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% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newburgh 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% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Berlin 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% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Newburgh 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. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$76,750±$10k 5% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Newburgh 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. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$244,600±$20k 26% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Newburgh 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. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$950±$219Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Springfield 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. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$2,748Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Newburgh 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | 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.