Compare towns
Chester vs Westminster 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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Westminster | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,999Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Westminster and Chester 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Westminster 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 VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Westminster 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.