Compare towns
Chester vs Windham vs Brandon 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 homeowners (86.7%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Windham | Brandon | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
594Lowest |
4,120Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Brandon 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Andover 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Brandon 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Windham 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | Otter Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.