Compare towns
Windham vs Addison vs Arlington vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Windham | Addison | Arlington | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,175 |
2,598 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Addison and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
40.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Addison and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Addison and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Addison and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,831 16% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Windham 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 | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Arlington School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | Arlington Memorial | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.