Compare towns
Windham vs Fair Haven vs Highgate 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 people working from home (20.5%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Highgate | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,724 |
3,528Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
15.8%±5.3 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Windham 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest 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% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Fair Haven 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
| Chester and Highgate 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 |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Windham 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% 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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.8 |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.