Compare towns

Windham vs Durham vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Durham has the most homeowners (92%).
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.

MeasureWindhamDurhamChester
People
Population
594Lowest
2,641
2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
48.8±5.1
25% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Durham 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
U.S.: 17.2%
24.2%±7
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chester and Durham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chester and Durham 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
17% above U.S.
$81,471±$15k
about the U.S. average
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Windham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$245,300±$26k
26% below U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$994±$844Highest
30% below U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Durham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,728Lowest
20% above U.S.
$4,262
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
19.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Chester 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 — #100 of 484 in NY #49 of 70 in VT
School district — CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town — CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.9Lowest
8.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.