Compare towns
Chester vs Proctor vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Proctor | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,794Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Proctor 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 VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
| Proctor and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT |
| Pownal and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Proctor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal and Chester 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.