Compare towns
Andover vs Bennington vs Windham vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Andover | Bennington | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
15,249Highest |
594Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Chester 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 26% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| 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 about the VT average |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
— | 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.