Compare towns
Springfield vs Stowe vs Williston 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Stowe | Williston | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
5,285 |
10,144Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Williston 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$13k 18% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston and Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Stowe and Williston 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 |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Williston 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Stowe High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.3 |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.