Compare towns
Andover vs Chester vs Dover vs Windham
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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Chester | Dover | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
2,992Highest |
1,466 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Chester 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dover 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above 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 |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Windham 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dover 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.