Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Chester vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Wardsboro | Chester | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
| Townshend and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.