Compare towns
Chester vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,522Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Pownal 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% |
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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±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. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% 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% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% 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. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Plainfield School District | 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 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.