Compare towns
Windham vs Danby vs Wheelock 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).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
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 | Danby | Wheelock | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,133 |
717 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Danby and Wheelock 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% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Windham 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% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Wheelock 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% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Wheelock 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 |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Danby 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 |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
| Chester and Danby 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 |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Danby 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% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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.