Compare towns
Chester vs Royalton 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).
Royalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Royalton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,752 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Royalton 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% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Chester 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 |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Windham and Royalton 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 |
$1,040±$391Highest 16% below VT |
— |
| Royalton and Chester 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 |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Royalton 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | White River Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.