Compare towns
Windham vs Waltham 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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594 |
452Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Waltham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Waltham 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±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Windham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Waltham and Chester 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 |
$5,714 13% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Waltham 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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 |
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.