Compare towns
Springfield vs Rumney 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
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 | Rumney | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,458Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Rumney 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% |
18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rumney and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Rumney 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Rumney 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. |
$79,444±$21kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rumney 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. |
$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rumney and Chester 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. |
$1,064±$100Highest 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rumney 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. |
$4,716 51% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Rumney 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Rumney 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 | Rumney 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.