Compare towns
Weathersfield vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weathersfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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.
| Measure | Weathersfield | Appleton | Mapleton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,856 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±5.4 24% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Weathersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weathersfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,095±$12k about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Weathersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,700±$50kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Weathersfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,401±$61Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,540Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Weathersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±14.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weathersfield 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 | #21 of 70 in VT | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Weathersfield School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.