Compare towns
Andover vs Rochester 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 expensive homes ($383k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Chester has the most kids (14.1% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,389 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Rochester and Chester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Chester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Andover and Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Andover and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Andover 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 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.