Compare towns
Chester vs Waterville vs Pownal
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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
680Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
49±9.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Chester and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
| Waterville and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT |
| Pownal and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 |
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.