Compare towns
Springfield vs Jefferson vs Bennington vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Jefferson | Bennington | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
2,647Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
38.1±4.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
28%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Bennington 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington 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 U.S. |
$85,078±$17kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Jefferson 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 42% below U.S. |
$311,600±$35kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,120±$130 21% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,587Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | #45 of 133 in ME | #58 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Jefferson Public Schools | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | 14.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.