Compare towns
Windham vs Putney vs Newfields 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
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,622 |
2,023 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest 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. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 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 |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Newfields School District | 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.