Compare towns
Windham vs Washington vs Dummerston 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 affordable homes ($218k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Dummerston | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,056 |
2,090 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%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 |
45.6±11.7 6% 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%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Windham 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% |
24.3%±3 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% VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 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±$12k 16% above VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Windham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Dummerston and Washington 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Windham 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.