What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hoosick has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Hoosick
People
Population	2,992Lowest	6,671Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.	44.9±5.5Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Chester and Hoosick 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%	22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hoosick 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and Hoosick 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%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Hoosick 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.	$63,372±$21kHighest 22% below U.S.
	Hoosick 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±$44kHighest 30% below U.S.	$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S.
	Chester and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S.	$881±$148Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Chester and Hoosick 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.	$4,071Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hoosick 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	#62 of 484 in NY
School district	Green Mountain Unified School District #77	HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Green Mountain Union High School	HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	9.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.