Compare towns
Windham vs Chester vs Brookline vs Jamaica
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).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Jamaica has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Chester | Brookline | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
2,992Highest |
531Lowest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
| Jamaica 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Jamaica 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
| Windham and Brookline 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Windham and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica and Brookline 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.