Compare towns
Windham vs Plainfield vs Townshend 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
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Plainfield | Townshend | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,522 |
1,538 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Townshend 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | 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 → |
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.