Compare towns
Springfield vs Middlesex vs Chester vs Newport
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 youngest population (median age 43.2).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Newport has the shortest commute (15 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 | Middlesex | Chester | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,992 |
4,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
46.4±4.3 8% above VT |
| Chester and Newport 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Newport 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,036Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Newport 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Newport 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 | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.