Compare towns
Windham vs Springfield vs Westminster vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Windham | Springfield | Westminster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
9,084Highest |
497Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Windham 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | — | 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 |
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.