Compare towns
Springfield vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chester 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 VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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 VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 | 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.