Compare towns
Springfield vs Marshall 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Marshall has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Marshall | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
2,163Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
37.5±2.8Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Springfield 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% |
27.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Marshall 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. |
$101,250±$32kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Marshall 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. |
$212,400±$18k 36% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Chester and Marshall 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. |
$1,039±$151Highest 26% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Marshall and Springfield 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. |
$3,595Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.5%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Marshall 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Chester 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 | WATERVILLE CENTRAL 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 |
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.