What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most people working from home (14%).

Lenox has the most kids (19.7% 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	Lenox
People
Population	2,992Lowest	8,658Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.	45.1±2Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Chester and Lenox 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%	19.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lenox 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%	21.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and Lenox 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%	21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Lenox 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.	$75,900±$8kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Lenox 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.	$161,600±$9kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S.	$935±$83Lowest 34% below U.S.
	Chester and Lenox 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.	$4,184Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.5%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chester and Lenox 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	#412 of 484 in NY
School district	Green Mountain Unified School District #77	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Green Mountain Union High School	CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.