Compare towns
Andover vs Shelburne 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 youngest population (median age 49.2).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
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 | Shelburne | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
7,969Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Shelburne and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Chester 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% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Shelburne 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% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Shelburne 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Shelburne 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±$68k 21% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Shelburne and Andover 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Shelburne 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 History | 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.