Compare towns
Chester vs Meredith vs Andover
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 most affordable homes ($233k median).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Meredith | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
6,758Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Meredith 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 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.