Compare towns
Windham vs Williston vs Brookfield 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Williston | Brookfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,486 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Brookfield 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Brookfield 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$12k 16% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 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 |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.