Compare towns
Lyndon vs Putnam vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the youngest population (median age 48.4).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Putnam | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
540Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7Lowest 24% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Chester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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 22% below U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Lyndon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846 23% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.