Compare towns
Springfield vs Highgate 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).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Highgate | Chester | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
3,528 |
2,992Lowest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%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 |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,062±$101Highest 14% below VT |
| Rockingham 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham and Springfield 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.8 |
8.7Lowest |
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| 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.