Compare towns

Chester vs Sutton vs Waterville vs Andover

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 most homeowners (86.7%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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.

MeasureChesterSuttonWatervilleAndover
People
Population
2,992Highest
790
680
616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
49.7±4.7Highest
15% above VT
46.6±5.7Lowest
8% above VT
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
49.2±5.1
14% above VT
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
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
20.4%±8.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Waterville and Sutton 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%
21.6%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.7%±4.3
VT: 21.4%
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%
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
43.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±4
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.5
VT: 7%
Waterville 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
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
$71,250±$27k
12% below VT
$102,500±$38kHighest
26% above VT
Andover and Sutton 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
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
$236,300±$15k
25% below VT
$382,900±$68kHighest
21% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$960±$44Lowest
22% below VT
—
$1,110±$93
10% below VT
$1,389±$364Highest
13% above VT
Andover and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,262
15% below VT
$3,975
21% below VT
$3,957Lowest
21% below VT
$5,190Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.5%±12.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
69.4%±47.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Andover and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
VT: 10.1%
12.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
18% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
25 minLowest
7% above VT
Work from home
14%±6.9
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.6%±12.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Andover 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 — — —
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A —
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 History 6 photos → 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.