Compare towns
Windham vs Mapleton vs Starks 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).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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 | Mapleton | Starks | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,884 |
556Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Starks 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Windham and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Starks 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. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer 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 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | 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 | 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.