Compare towns
Windham vs Fairfield vs Proctor 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%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Fairfield | Proctor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,938 |
1,794 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Proctor 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 |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Windham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor 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 |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Proctor 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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.