Compare towns
Windham vs Sheldon vs Underhill vs Chester
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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Sheldon | Underhill | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,267 |
3,141Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Underhill 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Chester 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Underhill 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 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 | None yet | None yet | 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.