Compare towns
Andover vs Westminster 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 highest household income ($103k).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Westminster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Westminster 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% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Andover and Westminster 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.