Compare towns
Chester vs Cornwall vs Reading vs Pownal
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).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Cornwall | Reading | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,208 |
699Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49±9.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Reading and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading 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% |
25.7%±6.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Cornwall 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading 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 | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.