Compare towns
Windham vs Norwich vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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 | Norwich | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
3,640Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Norwich 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Norwich 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Norwich School District | 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 |
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.