Compare towns
Chester vs Meredith 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 housing (typical home built 1972).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
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 | Meredith | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,467 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Chester 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% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Meredith 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. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Meredith 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. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— |
| Chester and Meredith 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. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Windham 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — |
| 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.