Compare towns
Chester vs Middlesex vs Union 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).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Andover has the shortest commute (25 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 | Middlesex | Union | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,943 |
2,663 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Andover 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Union 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| 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 | 6 photos → | 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.