Compare towns

Windham vs Minot 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 people working from home (20.5%).
Minot has the most homeowners (96%).
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.

MeasureWindhamMinotChester
People
Population
594Lowest
2,794
2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
49±6.1
26% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Minot 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%
21.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$95,655±$17kHighest
18% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Minot 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±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$294,900±$26k
11% below U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$878±$801Lowest
38% below U.S.
$960±$44Highest
32% below U.S.
Chester and Minot 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.
$2,602Lowest
17% below U.S.
$4,262
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
35.7%±40.7
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Minot 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%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1994Highest
14 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.8%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Minot 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 — #78 of 133 in ME #49 of 70 in VT
School district — RSU 16 Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town — None 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

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.