Compare towns
Pownal vs Exeter 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
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Pownal | Exeter | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
16,151Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.