Compare towns
Windham vs Orange vs Townshend vs Chester
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 most expensive homes ($354k median).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Townshend | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
957 |
1,538 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Townshend and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Orange 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 16% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 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 |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.