Compare towns
Windham vs Castleton vs West Windsor 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 people working from home (20.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Windsor has the highest household income ($109k).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Castleton | West Windsor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,171 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| West Windsor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| West Windsor 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±$20k 12% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| West Windsor and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Castleton and West Windsor 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,860 16% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and West Windsor 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | 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 | 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.