Compare towns
Chester vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Sheffield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
573Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42±8Lowest 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±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% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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±$8k 23% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
— |
| Sheffield 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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 |
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.