Compare towns
Springfield vs Milton 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 renters (32.3% rent).
Milton has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Milton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
4,538 |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
21.7%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% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Springfield 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. |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Milton 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. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Milton School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Nute High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.6 |
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.