Compare towns

Windham vs Williamson vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Williamson has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

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.

MeasureWindhamWilliamsonChester
People
Population
594Lowest
6,823Highest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-1.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
40.9±4.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Williamson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chester and Windham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
34.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chester and Williamson 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
17% above U.S.
$90,515±$14k
12% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Windham and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$192,700±$18kLowest
42% below U.S.
$232,900±$44k
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$659±$304Lowest
53% below U.S.
$960±$44Highest
32% below U.S.
Chester and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,172
66% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.1%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Williamson 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 — #221 of 484 in NY #49 of 70 in VT
School district — WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town — WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.3Lowest
8.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.