Compare towns

Windham vs Uxbridge vs Worcester 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Uxbridge has the highest household income ($125k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.

MeasureWindhamUxbridgeWorcesterChester
People
Population
594Lowest
14,473Highest
831
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
41.7±2.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Worcester 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%
19.5%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Uxbridge 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%
17.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
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%
38%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%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%
4.2%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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
17% above U.S.
$124,725±$7kHighest
54% above U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$441,100±$25kHighest
33% above U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,555±$265Highest
10% above U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,836
87% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.6%±5.5
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Uxbridge 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%
3.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 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
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester 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 — #183 of 282 in MA — #49 of 70 in VT
School district — Uxbridge Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town — Uxbridge High None in town Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Highest
—
8.7Lowest
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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.