Compare towns
Windham vs Orange vs Chester vs Westminster
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 highest household income ($95k).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Orange | Chester | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
7,573Highest |
2,992 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Westminster 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. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$233 45% below U.S. |
$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Chester and Orange 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. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.