Compare towns
Chester vs Bennington vs Windham vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Chester | Bennington | Windham | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
15,249Highest |
594Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Bennington and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Bennington 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.