Compare towns
Windham vs Middlesex vs Chester vs Worcester
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Middlesex | Chester | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,943 |
2,992Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Chester and Worcester 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.