Compare towns
Windham vs Dover vs Strafford 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Dover | Strafford | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,466 |
1,372 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Dover and Strafford 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dover 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer 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 |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Strafford 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 | 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.