Compare towns
Andover vs Mapleton vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Mapleton | Middlesex | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,884 |
1,943 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 27% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Middlesex 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 |
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.