Compare towns
Springfield vs Jay vs Proctor 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 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 | Jay | Proctor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
471Lowest |
1,794 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Jay and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Springfield 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Proctor 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor 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 |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
— | $1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Proctor and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
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.