Compare towns
Springfield vs Calais 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).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Springfield | Calais | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Chester 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 VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Calais 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 39% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Calais and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | #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 |
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.