Chester, VT vs Fair Haven, VT

Fair Haven is moderately more affordable than Chester, with a 14.1% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 84 compared to 73 for Fair Haven, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chester can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $938/month compared to $818/month in Fair Haven — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fair Haven is more affordable at $163,000 median vs $245,300.

Median household income in Chester is $67,782 compared to $65,898 in Fair Haven (+2.9%). Chester does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, more than the 14.9% in Fair Haven.