Compare towns
Chester vs Union vs Windham vs Andover
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).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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.
| Measure | Chester | Union | Windham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,663 |
594Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Windham 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% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Union 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. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Windham 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% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Windham 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | 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 |
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.