What stands out worked out from the figures below

Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Royalton	Chester
People
Population	2,752Lowest	2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT
	Chester and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Royalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chester and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±4.2Highest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7%
	Royalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,200±$73kHighest 17% below VT	$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT
	Royalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$391Highest 16% below VT	$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT
	Royalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,675Highest 7% below VT	$4,262Lowest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±16.1Highest VT: 48.4%	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Royalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 13% below VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Royalton and Chester 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	#48 of 70 in VT	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	White River Unified School District #79	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	White River Valley High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7	8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.