Compare towns
Andover vs Appleton vs Union 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
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable 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 | Andover | Appleton | Union | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,360 |
2,663 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Andover and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Union 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.