Compare towns
Windham vs Milton vs Westminster 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Milton has the highest household income ($119k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Milton | Westminster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
10,769Highest |
497Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,610 11% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Milton 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #56 of 70 in VT | #53 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 | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.