Compare towns
Springfield vs Sheffield 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 the most renters (32.3% rent).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
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 | Sheffield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
573Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Springfield 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 |
$967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Sheffield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 |
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.