Compare towns
Andover vs Townshend 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).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Townshend | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,538 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Townshend 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Andover and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Andover and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Andover and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Andover 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% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| 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.