Compare towns
Chittenden vs Windham vs Worcester vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Chittenden | Windham | Worcester | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
594 |
831 |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
| Chittenden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
| Windham and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
| Chittenden and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,181 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.