Compare towns
Pittsford vs Fairfield vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsford has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Pittsford | Fairfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,892 |
1,938Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±6.3 11% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,705±$7k 14% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Fairfield and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,000±$33kLowest 38% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Fairfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Pittsford 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 | #54 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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 Our Story | 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.