Compare towns
Chester vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Hope | Mapleton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,748 |
1,884 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Chester and Hope 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton 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. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Mapleton 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. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Hope and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Hope 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.