Compare towns
Barnard vs Chester vs Windham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Barnard | Chester | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,992Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Barnard and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Barnard and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.