Compare towns
Windham vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Windham 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%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Chester 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional 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.