Compare towns
Hyde Park vs Brookline vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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.
| Measure | Hyde Park | Brookline | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 513Lowest |
531 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Hyde Park and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Brookline and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$285 6% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | #59 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| 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.