Compare towns

Windham vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k 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.

MeasureWindhamMeredithChester
People
Population
594Lowest
6,758Highest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
49.7±4.7
28% above U.S.
Meredith and Chester 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%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
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%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Chester 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%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chester and Meredith 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.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Windham and Meredith 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.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,149±$304Highest
19% below U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Meredith 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.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Windham 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%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith 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 — #62 of 120 in NH #49 of 70 in VT
School district — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town — Inter-Lakes High School Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
8.7Lowest
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.