Compare towns
Chester vs Jericho vs Reading vs Windham
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).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Jericho | Reading | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
5,114Highest |
699 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading 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% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and Reading 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% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Reading 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 |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Jericho 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 26% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Jericho 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.