Compare towns
Andover vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Orange | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
7,573Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% 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%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Chester 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Andover and Chester 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. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Chester 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.