Compare towns
Springfield vs Stratton vs Rockingham 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).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Stratton | Rockingham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
532Lowest |
4,807 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Rockingham 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Rockingham 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Rockingham 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Stratton and Rockingham 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Rockingham 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham 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 | — | #65 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Rockingham 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 | 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.