Compare towns
Chester vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Strong | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Pownal and Chester 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$944±$139 33% below U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Pownal 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 | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.