Compare towns

Windham vs Jackson 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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
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.

MeasureWindhamJacksonChester
People
Population
594Lowest
897
2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+26%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
60.5±2.5Highest
56% above U.S.
49.7±4.7
28% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
4.1%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Chester 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%
28.4%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chester and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
67.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chester and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$117,986±$46kHighest
46% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Jackson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$719,300±$109kHighest
116% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,750±$1kHighest
24% above U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Jackson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$6,001Highest
92% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
21.1%±59.9
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.2%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jackson 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 — Jackson 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

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.