Compare towns
Chester vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Williston | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Chester and Pownal 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Pownal 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 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.