Compare towns
Windham vs Barre vs Townshend 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).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Barre | Townshend | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,538 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Townshend and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 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% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Barre 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 |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Barre and Townshend 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 |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
8.1Lowest |
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.