Compare towns
Pownal vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Sutton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
9,452Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Sutton | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.