Compare towns
Hampton vs Chester vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Chester | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
2,992Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Sheldon 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 | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| 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.