Compare towns
Weathersfield vs Barre vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weathersfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Barre | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,856Lowest |
8,412Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.3±5.4 12% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Weathersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Weathersfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Weathersfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| 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±$12kHighest about the VT average |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Weathersfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,700±$50kHighest 20% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Weathersfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,401±$61Highest 14% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,540 10% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80.3%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Weathersfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±14.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Weathersfield School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.