Compare towns
Windham vs Milton vs Chester vs Brookline
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Milton has the highest household income ($119k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Milton | Chester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
10,769Highest |
2,992 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Chester and Brookline 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% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Milton 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% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Milton 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 |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Milton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,536±$257 24% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,610 11% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Brookline 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% |
3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #56 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Milton School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | Milton Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.