Compare towns
Chester vs Williamstown 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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% 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 | Williamstown | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
3,579Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Williamstown 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 |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
| Williamstown and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.