Compare towns
Windham vs Bennington vs Chester vs Westminster
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 highest household income ($95k).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Bennington | Chester | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
9,245Highest |
2,992 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
44.5±3 3% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Bennington 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% |
15.8%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
26.9%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.5% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Bennington 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 |
$54,257±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Windham and Westminster 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 |
$191,700±$28kLowest 39% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,115±$57Highest 10% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,331 14% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1954 22 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #53 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 | 6 photos → | 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.