Compare towns

Chester vs Walpole vs Windham

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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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.

MeasureChesterWalpoleWindham
People
Population
2,992
3,690Highest
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
Chester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
Walpole 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
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chester and Walpole 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%
32.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chester and Walpole 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.
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
Walpole and Windham 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%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Highest
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 #27 of 120 in NH —
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Fall Mountain Regional School District —
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

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.