Compare towns
Chester vs Ogunquit vs Middlesex 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 most affordable homes ($233k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Middlesex | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,379Lowest |
1,943 |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Pownal 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Middlesex 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chester 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 | 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.