Compare towns
Lyndon vs Ira vs Chester
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Ira | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
381Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7Lowest 12% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Ira and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Ira 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% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Lyndon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Ira and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Ira and Chester 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$960±$44 22% 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Lyndon 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 |
| 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 History | 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.