Compare towns
Springfield vs Chester vs Swanton
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).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Chester | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,992Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Chester and Swanton 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest 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% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Swanton 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| 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 39% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
| Swanton and Chester 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Swanton 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
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| 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.