Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Pownal
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Hampton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,145Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Chester and Pownal 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal and Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Hampton 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. |
$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Pownal and Chester 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. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Hampton 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Chester 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 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.