Compare towns
Windham vs Washington 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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Washington | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,056 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Washington 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% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Washington 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% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Washington 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% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Washington 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 |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $996±$285Highest 19% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Washington 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 |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Washington 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Washington 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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 |
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.