Compare towns
Springfield vs Unity vs Mapleton 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).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Unity | Mapleton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,884 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Unity and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | 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 | 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.