Compare towns
Windham vs Westminster vs Ira 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 highest household income ($95k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Westminster | Ira | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
2,999Highest |
381Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Ira and Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Ira 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
| Chester and Ira 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Windham 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%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 |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.