Compare towns
Union vs Chester vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Chester has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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 | Union | Chester | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
2,992Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.2±6.7 24% above U.S. |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$59,861±$17kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Union and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,036±$322 27% below U.S. |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,286Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±62.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Washington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Washington 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.