Compare towns
Springfield vs Ripton vs Chester vs St. Johnsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
St. Johnsbury has the shortest commute (20 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 | Ripton | Chester | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
508Lowest |
2,992 |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42.8±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
— | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Ripton 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 | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.