What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).

Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Royalton
People
Population	2,992Highest	2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT	43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average
	Chester and Royalton 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%	14.4%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Royalton 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 VT: 21.4%	22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Chester and Royalton 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 VT: 43.8%	42.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7%	8%±4.2Highest VT: 7%
	Royalton 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 VT	$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT	$263,200±$73kHighest 17% below VT
	Royalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT	$1,040±$391Highest 16% below VT
	Royalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,262Lowest 15% below VT	$4,675Highest 7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	36.7%±16.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Royalton and Chester 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%	13%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT	1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	20 minLowest 13% below VT
Work from home	14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	Green Mountain Unified School District #77	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Green Mountain Union High School	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7	8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.