Compare towns
Andover vs Peru vs Stratton 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 people working from home (29.6%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Peru | Stratton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
434Lowest |
532 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
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%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$38k 26% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$122,708±$33k 51% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Peru and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Peru 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% |
1.8% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #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 | 6 photos → |
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.