Compare towns

Windham vs Andover vs Chester vs Worcester

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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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.

MeasureWindhamAndoverChesterWorcester
People
Population
594Lowest
616
2,992Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
49.2±5.1
14% above VT
49.7±4.7Highest
15% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.1%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Chester 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%
22.7%±4.3
VT: 21.4%
29.8%±7.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
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%
43.3%
VT: 43.8%
33.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.5
VT: 7%
5.1%±4
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
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±$12k
16% above VT
$102,500±$38kHighest
26% above VT
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
Andover and Windham 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
$382,900±$68kHighest
21% above VT
$232,900±$44kLowest
26% below VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,389±$364Highest
13% above VT
$960±$44Lowest
22% below VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
Andover and Worcester 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
$5,190
about the VT average
$4,262Lowest
15% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
69.4%±47.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
Andover and Windham 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%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
82.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
25 minLowest
7% above VT
28 min
18% above VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
29.6%±12.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
14%±6.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
Andover and Worcester 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 — — Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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 Our Story 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.