What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Dalton
People
Population	2,992Lowest	6,256Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±4.7 28% above U.S.	49.7±5.8 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and Dalton 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Dalton 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 U.S.	$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S.	$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Dalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S.	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Chester and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S.	$4,276Highest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chester and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Green Mountain Unified School District #77	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Green Mountain Union High School	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.