Compare towns
Andover vs Chester vs Plainfield
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).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% 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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Andover 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Andover and Plainfield 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Plainfield 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.