Compare towns
Springfield vs Dummerston vs Chester vs Rockingham
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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% rent).
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 | Chester | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,992 |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Chester and Rockingham 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%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Rockingham 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Rockingham 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±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Rockingham 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 | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.