Compare towns
Chester vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,239Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S. |
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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Sutton 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.