What are the schools like in Chester, VT?

Chester is served primarily by Green Mountain Unified School District #77. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.9:1.

What is the median household income in Chester?

The median household income in Chester, VT is $63,919 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Chester, VT?

Chester has an average high temperature of 29.8°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 83.3 inches.

Chester, VT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Chester, VT affordable or expensive?

Chester's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chester is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $268,800 and the median rent is $1,003 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chester, VT?

Chester has a violent crime rate of 66.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 99.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chester, VT a Good Place to Live?

Chester is a small town of 1,097 in Vermont, with a median household income of $63,919 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Chester stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Chester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Chester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.9

Chester's overall cost of living index is 97.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chester costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chester, VT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$268,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,003	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,919	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chester's violent crime rate is 66.3 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

66.3 /100k

Property Crime

99.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Chester is served primarily by Green Mountain Unified School District #77. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chester, VT	National Avg
School District	Green Mountain Unified School District #77	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	49.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chester sees average highs of 29.8°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 40.3 inches of annual precipitation and 83.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chester, VT
Average High — January	29.8°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	40.3"
Annual Snowfall	83.3"

Demographics

Metric	Chester, VT	National Avg
Population	1,097	—
Median Age	40.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.2%	22.2%
65 and over	29.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Springfield, VT 5 mi Springfield, VT 6 mi Grafton, VT 7 mi Proctorsville, VT 8 mi Cavendish, VT 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Chester

Chester, VT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

05143

Chester vs Other Cities

Chester, VT vs North Springfield, VT Chester, VT vs Springfield, VT Chester, VT vs Grafton, VT Chester, VT vs Proctorsville, VT Chester, VT vs Cavendish, VT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chester, VT affordable or expensive?

Chester's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chester roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $268,800 and median rent is $1,003/month.

What is the crime rate in Chester, VT?

Chester's violent crime rate is 66.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 99.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chester?

Public schools in Chester are operated by Green Mountain Unified School District #77. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1. 49.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chester, VT a good place to live?

Chester, VT has a population of 1,097, a median household income of $63,919, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Chester?

Chester averages 29.8°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.3 inches with about 83.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chester?

Chester, VT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 05143.

What is the population of Chester?

The population of Chester, Vermont is 1,097 with a median age of 40.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chester?

Key numbers for living in Chester: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $268,800, median household income $63,919, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.