Compare towns
Windham vs Sharon vs Chester vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Sharon | Chester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,577 |
2,992Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Sharon 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 VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Andover 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 16% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover 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 12% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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 VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Sharon 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 | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
VT 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.