Compare towns
Andover vs Hatfield 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 most people working from home (29.6%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 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 | Hatfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
3,325Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Hatfield 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% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Hatfield 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% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Andover and Hatfield 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. |
$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Hatfield 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 |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Hatfield 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Hatfield 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 | — | #198 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Hatfield | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Smith Academy | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| 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.