Compare towns
Andover vs Bennington 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%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% 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 | Bennington | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,588 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Andover 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% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Andover 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. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Andover and Bennington 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. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Bennington 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 | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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 |
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.