Compare towns
Springfield vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Salisbury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,609Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Chester 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% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Salisbury 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% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Merrimack Valley 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 Our Story | 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.