Compare towns
Windham vs West Haven vs Worcester 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).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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.
| Measure | Windham | West Haven | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
234Lowest |
831 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| West Haven 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% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| 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±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and West Haven 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 |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Worcester 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 |
$4,485 11% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Worcester 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% |
10.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.