Compare towns
Pownal vs White River Junction vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
3,364Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Pownal 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 VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| White River Junction and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| White River Junction and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal and White River Junction 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.