Compare towns
Chester vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Exeter | Windham | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
913 |
594Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest 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% |
28.2%Lowest 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% |
1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Windham and Exeter 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. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— | $944±$139 33% below U.S. |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Windham 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% |
4.3%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% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 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. |
29 minHighest 9% 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% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Pownal 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 | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.