Compare towns

Windham vs Rye 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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.

MeasureWindhamRyeChester
People
Population
594Lowest
5,611Highest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
49.7±4.7
28% above U.S.
Rye 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%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye 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%
61.5%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%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chester and Rye 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.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rye 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.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rye 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%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 — #2 of 120 in NH #49 of 70 in VT
School district — Rye School District 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
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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.