Compare towns
Andover vs Braintree vs Plainfield 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%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Plainfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,026 |
1,314 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chester 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 26% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Andover and Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Andover and Plainfield 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Braintree 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.