Compare towns
Windham vs Putney vs Colrain 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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Putney | Colrain | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,622 |
1,627 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Windham and Colrain 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Windham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Colrain 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mohawk Trail | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.