What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newport has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newport	Chester
People
Population	6,375Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.9±5.2Lowest 21% above U.S.	49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Chester and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chester and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,341±$12kHighest about the U.S. average	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S.
	Newport and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,900±$17kLowest 32% below U.S.	$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S.
	Chester and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,365±$305Highest 3% below U.S.	$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,649Highest 81% above U.S.	$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	9.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chester and Newport 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	#119 of 120 in NH	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Newport School District	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Newport Middle High School (High)	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.