Compare towns
Chester vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Lancaster | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
3,216Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Chester 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Chester 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| 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 | 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.