Compare towns
Windham vs Fairlee vs Brookline 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).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Fairlee | Brookline | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,066 |
531Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Chester 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Brookline 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Brookline 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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 | 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.