Compare towns
Windham vs Nelson vs Worcester 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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Nelson | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
648 |
831 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Chester 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 17% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Windham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Worcester 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. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | Nelson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.