Compare towns

Springfield vs Croydon 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 renters (32.3% rent).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.

MeasureSpringfieldCroydonChester
People
Population
9,084Highest
798Lowest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
43±9.1Lowest
11% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Croydon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chester and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chester and Croydon 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.
$98,333±$21kHighest
22% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Croydon 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
42% below U.S.
$317,300±$33kHighest
5% below U.S.
$232,900±$44k
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$991±$336Highest
30% below U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Croydon 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.
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$4,262
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
7.1%±75.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±4.9Lowest
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 — #49 of 70 in VT
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Croydon School District 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

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.