Compare towns
Springfield vs Dummerston vs Barnard 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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Barnard 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.
| Measure | Springfield | Dummerston | Barnard | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,090 |
1,211Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Barnard 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Dummerston and Barnard 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Barnard and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Dummerston and Barnard 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Barnard 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.