Compare towns
Andover vs Calais vs Cornwall 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%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
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 | Calais | Cornwall | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,713 |
1,208 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Cornwall and Chester 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Cornwall 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Cornwall 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$38k 26% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Cornwall and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Cornwall and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Calais and Andover 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 |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Cornwall 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.