Compare towns
Pownal vs Williston 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%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
10,144Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.