What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).

Lyndon has the shortest commute (23 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Lyndon
People
Population	2,992Lowest	5,590Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT	48.4±6.7Lowest 12% above VT
	Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%	13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Chester and Lyndon 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%	21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Chester and Lyndon 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%	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7%	9.8%±2Highest VT: 7%
	Lyndon and Chester 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	$68,786±$6kHighest 15% below VT
	Lyndon 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 26% below VT	$227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT
	Chester and Lyndon 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	$1,096±$123Highest 11% below VT
	Lyndon and Chester 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	$3,846Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	23 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Chester and Lyndon 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	#44 of 70 in VT
School district	Green Mountain Unified School District #77	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	Green Mountain Union High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.