Compare towns
Windham vs Bristol 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 highest household income ($95k).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Bristol | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
3,778Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Bristol 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% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest 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% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Bristol 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 |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Bristol 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 |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Windham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol 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% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Bristol 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.