Compare towns
Windham vs Middlesex vs Brandon vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Brandon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,943 |
4,120Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Brandon 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Middlesex and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.