Compare towns
Windham vs Old Bennington vs Chester vs Westminster
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).
Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Old Bennington | Chester | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
182Lowest |
2,992Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45±21.3 4% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Old Bennington 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% |
22.5%±12 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Old Bennington 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% |
30.8%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Old Bennington 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% VT: 43.8% |
84.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Westminster 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 |
$168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$445,500±$105kHighest 41% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Old Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$1kHighest 14% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Old Bennington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$8,690Highest 72% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Old Bennington 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school 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 | 6 photos → | 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.