Compare towns
Windham vs Moriah vs Strafford 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%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Moriah | Strafford | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
4,483Highest |
1,372 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Moriah and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$63,113±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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 6% above U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $832±$165Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Moriah and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Strafford 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 | — | #380 of 484 in NY | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 8.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.