Compare towns
Windham vs Stratton vs Fairlee 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%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Stratton | Fairlee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
532Lowest |
1,066 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Fairlee 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 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Chester 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Stratton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Stratton and Fairlee 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Fairlee 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 | — | — | Rivendell Interstate 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 | 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.