Compare towns
Andover vs Middlesex vs Proctor 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 renters (17.2% rent).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Proctor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,943 |
1,794 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| 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 26% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| 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 21% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| 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 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| 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 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Proctor 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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.