Compare towns
Andover vs Chester vs Mapleton vs Reading
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%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Mapleton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,884 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton 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. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Andover and Mapleton 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. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| Andover and Reading 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. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.