Compare towns
Chester vs Highgate vs Pownal
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).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Highgate | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
3,528Highest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pownal and Highgate 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% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
| Highgate 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±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Highgate and Pownal 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 |
$944±$139 24% below VT |
| Chester and Pownal 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 |
$3,560 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Highgate 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal and Highgate 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 | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
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| 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.