Compare towns
Windham vs Jackson vs Chester vs Brookline
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 renters (17.1% rent).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Chester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
897 |
2,992Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% 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. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
41.1% 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% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Brookline 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. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Brookline 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%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% |
84.9% 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. |
1975 5 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 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% 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% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Brookline 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.