Compare towns
Windham vs Jay vs Worcester 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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Jay | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,354 |
831 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.8±4.6 25% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
25.3%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Jay 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% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 17% above U.S. |
$72,380±$19k 10% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$196,900±$22kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,272±$366Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,741Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.4%±21.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.