Compare towns
Chester vs Fairlee vs Andover
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 kids (14.1% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Fairlee | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,066 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Fairlee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Chester 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate 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 |
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.