Compare towns
Chester vs Proctor vs Wallingford 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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Wallingford has the most kids (18.7% 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.
| Measure | Chester | Proctor | Wallingford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,586 |
2,286 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Proctor 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% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
28%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Proctor 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 |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,059±$200Highest 14% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
— |
| Proctor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | — |
| 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 | 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.