Compare towns
Windham vs Baltimore vs Mendon 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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Baltimore has the highest household income ($108k).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Baltimore | Mendon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
361Lowest |
1,113 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Mendon and Baltimore 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% |
8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Mendon 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% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Mendon 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 |
$107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Baltimore and Mendon 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 |
$219,400±$27kLowest 31% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Mendon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$4,329 14% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
26.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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 | 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.