What stands out worked out from the figures below

St. Johnsbury has the most kids (20% under 18).

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	St. Johnsbury	Chester
People
Population	5,859Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.6±4.5Lowest about the VT average	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT
	Chester and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	St. Johnsbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chester and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	33.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7%
	St. Johnsbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,711±$8kLowest 34% below VT	$62,125±$8kHighest 23% below VT
	Chester and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$174,500±$17kLowest 45% below VT	$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT
	Chester and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$912±$45Lowest 26% below VT	$960±$44Highest 22% below VT
	Chester and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,778Lowest 25% below VT	$4,262Highest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±11.6Highest VT: 48.4%	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	19.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	17.6%±5Highest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	St. Johnsbury 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	#60 of 70 in VT	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school 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

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.