Compare towns
Chester vs Franklin 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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Franklin | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,590 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Andover 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% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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 |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Franklin 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| 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.