Compare towns
Chester vs Jay vs Windham vs Weathersfield
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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Weathersfield has the most kids (22% 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 | Jay | Windham | Weathersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
471Lowest |
594 |
2,856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.3±5.4 12% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
22%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Weathersfield 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 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Weathersfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Weathersfield 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±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$83,095±$12k about the VT average |
| Windham and Weathersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$252,700±$50k 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | — | $1,401±$61Highest 14% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,540 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
80.3%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Weathersfield and Windham 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±14.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Weathersfield 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 | — | — | #21 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Weathersfield School District |
| 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.