Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Windham vs Brandon
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 homeowners (86.7%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Hampton | Windham | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
10,101Highest |
594Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Brandon 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% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Hampton 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Hampton 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. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
— | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Brandon 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 70 in VT | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| 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.