Compare towns
Windham vs Windsor vs Calais vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Windsor | Calais | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
3,554Highest |
1,713 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Windsor 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% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Calais 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±$20k 12% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Calais and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | #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 | 12 photos → | 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.