Compare towns
Windham vs Meredith vs Westminster 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Meredith | Westminster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,467 |
497Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% 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%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Westminster 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. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$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±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $794±$175 44% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
| Chester and Meredith 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. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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 | 6 photos → |
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.