Compare towns
Springfield vs Northfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Northfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
5,920 |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| 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%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Northfield 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%±3.8Lowest 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Northfield 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 39% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.0 |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.