Compare towns
Lyndon vs Putney 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 most affordable homes ($227k median).
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Lyndon | Putney | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 |
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.