Compare towns

Chester vs Mount Tabor vs Stratton 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).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).

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.

MeasureChesterMount TaborStrattonWindham
People
Population
2,992Highest
304Lowest
532
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
— — —
Median age
49.7±4.7
15% above VT
57.8±10.6Highest
34% above VT
31.5±4.1Lowest
27% below VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
Mount Tabor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±6.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
28%±7.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Stratton 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
VT: 21.4%
42.4%±18.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.7%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Mount Tabor 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
VT: 43.8%
34.9%
VT: 43.8%
33.2%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±4Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±4
VT: 7%
1.3%±2.8
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Chester and Mount Tabor 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
—
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Stratton 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
$420,500±$76kHighest
33% above VT
$400,000±$50k
26% above VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
Mount Tabor and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$960±$44Lowest
22% below VT
$2,143±$367Highest
74% above VT
$1,208±$979
about the VT average
—
Mount Tabor and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,262Lowest
15% below VT
$5,233
4% above VT
$4,750
6% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.5%±12.3
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
12%±69.8
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Highest
VT: 48.4%
Windham and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
VT: 10.1%
11%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
92.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1946Lowest
30 yrs older than VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
18% above VT
46 minHighest
94% above VT
33 min
39% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
Work from home
14%±6.9
VT: 16.9%
10.4%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 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.