Compare towns
Windham vs Benson 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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Benson | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
784 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Benson 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Benson 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±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Benson 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Benson 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 |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.