What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hoosick has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k median).

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	Hoosick	Chester
People
Population	6,671Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±5.5Lowest 15% above U.S.	49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Chester and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hoosick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,372±$21kHighest 22% below U.S.	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S.
	Hoosick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S.	$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S.
	Chester and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$881±$148Lowest 38% below U.S.	$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S.
	Chester and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,071Lowest 31% above U.S.	$4,262Highest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hoosick 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	#62 of 484 in NY	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.