Compare towns
Lyndon vs Chester vs St. Johnsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the highest household income ($69k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
St. Johnsbury has the most kids (21% 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 | Lyndon | Chester | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,590 |
2,992Lowest |
7,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42.8±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6kHighest 15% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
| Lyndon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21k 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123Highest 11% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Lyndon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,916 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.