Compare towns
Starksboro vs Chester vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starksboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Starksboro | Chester | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,939 |
2,992Highest |
1,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
| Chester and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
| Burke and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$42k 9% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Burke and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Starksboro 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 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.