What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).

Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

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	Highgate
People
Population	2,992Lowest	3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average
	Chester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Highgate 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%	22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Chester and Highgate 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 VT: 43.8%	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest VT: 7%	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Chester and Highgate 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	$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average
	Highgate and Chester 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	$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT
	Highgate and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$960±$44Highest 22% below VT	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT
	Chester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,262Highest 15% below VT	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Highgate and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 18% above VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Highgate 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	#43 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	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	9.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.