Compare towns
Chester vs Erwin vs Painted Post
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Painted Post has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Chester | Erwin | Painted Post |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
7,965Highest |
1,824Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.8±2Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.7±5.2 17% above U.S. |
| Chester and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Erwin and Painted Post 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% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Painted Post 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% |
49.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Erwin 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. |
$88,333±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$62,891±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Erwin and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$223,700±$26k 33% below U.S. |
$155,900±$13kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Chester and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,271±$136Highest 10% below U.S. |
$839±$281Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,829Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,442 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.4%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Painted Post and Erwin 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 43% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Painted Post 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 | #431 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.