Compare towns
Springfield vs Castleton vs Middlebury 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castleton | Middlebury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
4,453 |
9,175Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
37.9% 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% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Middlebury and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Middlebury 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 12.6 |
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.