Compare towns
Windham vs Worcester vs Townshend 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 highest household income ($95k).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Worcester | Townshend | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
207,055Highest |
1,538 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
8.1Lowest |
8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.