Compare towns
Windham vs Albany vs Worcester 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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Albany has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Windham | Albany | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
135Lowest |
831 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.9±14Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Worcester 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% |
20.7%±11.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Albany and Windham 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% |
11.1%±19.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.7%±7.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
— | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$211,800±$56kLowest 33% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$2,867Lowest 43% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
— | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Worcester 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
9%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.