Compare towns
Andover vs Fairlee vs Stratton 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%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Stratton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,066 |
532Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Chester 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Stratton and Andover 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Andover and Stratton 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Fairlee 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | 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 | 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.