Compare towns
Chester vs Moriah vs Windham vs Brandon
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 most homeowners (86.7%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Moriah | Windham | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,483Highest |
594Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Windham 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% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Brandon 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. |
$63,113±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$832±$165Lowest 41% below U.S. |
— | $1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Brandon 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. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Moriah and Brandon 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% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 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 | #380 of 484 in NY | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
8.6Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.