Compare towns
Chester vs Epping vs Windham vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Epping | Windham | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
7,430Highest |
594Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Epping and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Epping School District | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Epping High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.