Compare towns
Windham vs Fair Haven vs Benson 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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Fair Haven | Benson | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,724 |
784 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Benson 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chester 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 |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Benson 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Benson 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 |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Benson 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.