Compare towns
Andover vs Dummerston vs Mendon 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%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Dummerston | Mendon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,090 |
1,113 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Mendon 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Mendon 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Andover and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Andover and Mendon 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Andover 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dummerston 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | 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 | 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.