Compare towns
Chester vs Jay vs Sheldon 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).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
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 | Jay | Sheldon | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
471Lowest |
2,267 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Jay and Chester 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Andover 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Sheldon 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.