Compare towns
Windham vs Brookfield vs Cavendish 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).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Cavendish | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,486 |
1,242 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Cavendish 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% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Brookfield 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% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Brookfield and Windham 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 |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Windham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,000±$546Highest 19% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Cavendish and Brookfield 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 |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Brookfield 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 18 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.