Compare towns
Springfield vs Fairlee 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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Fairlee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,066Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Fairlee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Chester 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Chester 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Fairlee and Springfield 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Springfield 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% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate 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 |
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.