What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Chester
People
Population	10,736Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT
	Chester and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Hartford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chester and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Highest VT: 7%
	Chester and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT	$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average	$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 15% above VT	$4,262Lowest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4%	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Chester and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Hartford School District	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Hartford High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.