Compare towns
Windham vs Braintree 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).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Braintree | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,026 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chester 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Braintree 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 |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
| Chester and Braintree 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree 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% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Braintree 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.