Compare towns
Chester vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Webster | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
12,228Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below 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% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Chester 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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 U.S. |
$63,837±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Webster 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. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Webster 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. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Webster 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. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Webster 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.