Compare towns
Appleton vs Chester vs Liberty vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Appleton | Chester | Liberty | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,992Highest |
969Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31k 31% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,434 22% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Liberty 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.