Compare towns
Chester vs Calais vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Chester | Calais | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
| Chester and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
| Monkton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$379,900±$18k 20% above VT |
| Calais and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
| Calais and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,887 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton and Calais 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school 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 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.