Compare towns

Windham vs Auburn vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($600k median).
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.

MeasureWindhamAuburnChester
People
Population
594Lowest
6,119Highest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
44.3±5.9
14% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Auburn 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
U.S.: 17.2%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
Auburn 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
17% above U.S.
$153,253±$6kHighest
90% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$8,092Highest
159% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±27
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Auburn 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 — #44 of 120 in NH #49 of 70 in VT
School district — Auburn School District 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

U.S. 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.