What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).

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.

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

Measure	Northfield	Chester
People
Population	5,920Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7% VT: +2.8%	-4.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Northfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT
	Northfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT	$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT
	Northfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT	$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT
	Northfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,878Highest 3% below VT	$4,262Lowest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4%	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 16% above VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Chester and Northfield 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	#42 of 70 in VT	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Paine Mountain Union School District #68	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Northfield Middle/High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.