Compare towns
Chester vs Unity vs Andover vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Unity | Andover | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,375 |
616Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Chester 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Andover 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Andover and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Unity and Andover 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Brandon 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Unity School District | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 4 photos → | 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.