Compare towns
Washington vs Chester vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Chester has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Washington | Chester | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
2,992 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$234,900±$24kHighest 26% below VT |
| Williamstown and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 19% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Washington 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 | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.