Compare towns
Andover vs Hampton Beach vs Chester
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 highest household income ($103k).
Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
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 | Hampton Beach | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,605 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Andover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Hampton Beach 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 History | 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.