Compare towns

Sheffield vs Chester vs Sheffield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most renters (16.3% rent).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureSheffieldChesterSheffield
People
Population
573
2,992Highest
190Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
42±8
about the VT average
49.7±4.7Highest
15% above VT
32.5±2.3Lowest
25% below VT
Chester and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±6.6
VT: 17.9%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
34.7%±13.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheffield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±4
VT: 21.4%
29.8%±7.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
13.2%±14Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Chester and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.1%
VT: 43.8%
33.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
16.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
5.1%±4
VT: 7%
2.1%±5.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
$62,125±$8k
23% below VT
$65,795±$12kHighest
19% below VT
Sheffield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$171,900±$50k
46% below VT
$232,900±$44kHighest
26% below VT
$122,700±$70kLowest
61% below VT
Chester and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$967±$79
22% below VT
$960±$44Lowest
22% below VT
$1,219±$563Highest
about the VT average
Sheffield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,123
58% below VT
$4,262Highest
15% below VT
$1,714Lowest
66% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%
VT: 10.1%
8.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
28% above VT
28 min
18% above VT
21 minLowest
12% below VT
Work from home
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14%±6.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.6%±6.3
VT: 16.9%
Chester and Sheffield 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 — #49 of 70 in VT —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 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 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.