Compare towns
Windham vs Cavendish vs Jay 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).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Cavendish | Jay | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,242 |
471Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Windham 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% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Cavendish 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% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 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±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Cavendish 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 |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,000±$546Highest 19% below VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Cavendish 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 | 18 photos → | 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.