Compare towns
Chester vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,522 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Chester 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Andover 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Plainfield School District | — |
| 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 | 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.