Compare towns
Windham vs Otis vs Westminster 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Otis | Westminster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,624 |
497Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Otis and Chester 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% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Otis 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% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Otis 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. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Otis 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±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Otis and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Otis and Chester 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. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Otis 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Farmington River Reg | — | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.