1st Advantage MortgageWindham County households have a median income of $72,217 and median rent of $1,056 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Vermont license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Windham County
- Jobs and commutes in Windham County
- Household income in Windham County
- Housing costs in Windham County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Windham County
- Who lives in Windham County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Windham County
- Budget math at the Windham County median
- Licensing and complaints for Windham County
- A Windham County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Windham County
Roughly 45,923 residents live in Windham County, Vermont, 6th by population among the state's 14 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 786 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 58 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 32 places in the county (16 incorporated, 16 census-designated); the largest is Brattleboro, with about 7,657 residents, or 17% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Windham County
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Windham County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The survey's unemployment rate for Windham County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 68% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 6.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Windham County | Gap to Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.1% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -2.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Windham County
Windham County households have a median income of $72,217 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 10th of 14 in Vermont.
| Band | Windham County | Compared with Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.9% | +2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.1% | -1.0 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. 11.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.472 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Windham County median.
Housing costs in Windham County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,056 in Windham County versus $1,234 statewide. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $279,600, a typical Windham County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 74%. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Windham County | Vermont | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,056/mo | $1,234/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $279,600 | $316,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.7% | 5.9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Neighboring counties at a glance
Bennington County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Washington County, is 42 miles off. Income ranges from $73,325 in Bennington County to $83,329 in Cheshire County; all six of these neighbors top Windham County's median. The list crosses into Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windham County | - | $72,217 | $1,056/mo | 74% |
| Bennington County, VT | 20 mi | $73,325 | $1,109/mo | 74% |
| Cheshire County, NH | 24 mi | $83,329 | $1,276/mo | 73% |
| Franklin County, MA | 29 mi | $74,907 | $1,177/mo | 70% |
| Sullivan County, NH | 36 mi | $80,858 | $1,211/mo | 75% |
| Windsor County, VT | 40 mi | $77,594 | $1,118/mo | 75% |
| Washington County, NY | 42 mi | $73,495 | $1,033/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Windham County
32 Census places fall mainly inside Windham County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 34,536 residents, leaving about 25% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Stratton has the highest median household income on the list ($122,708) and West Brattleboro the lowest ($44,827), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Dover ($670) and steepest in Brookline ($1,732). No Windham County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 32.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brattleboro | CDP | 7,657 | $52,734 | $1,113 | 12 mi |
| Rockingham | town | 4,807 | $70,857 | $1,062 | 16 mi |
| Bellows Falls | village | 2,891 | $56,086 | $1,038 | 16 mi |
| West Brattleboro | CDP | 2,749 | $44,827 | $848 | 11 mi |
| Vernon | town | 2,709 | $85,682 | $1,023 | 19 mi |
| Guilford | town | 2,461 | $75,243 | $1,283 | 16 mi |
| Dummerston | town | 2,090 | $101,696 | $1,392 | 8 mi |
| Dover | town | 1,466 | $52,313 | $670 | 7 mi |
| Marlboro | town | 1,362 | $77,135 | $1,600 | 8 mi |
| Halifax | town | 847 | $63,889 | $875 | 15 mi |
| Windham | town | 594 | $94,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Saxtons River | village | 553 | $106,250 | $1,188 | 15 mi |
| Stratton | town | 532 | $122,708 | $1,208 | 11 mi |
| Brookline | town | 531 | $80,833 | $1,732 | 6 mi |
Who lives in Windham County, in numbers
Degree holders: 44% of adults over 25. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Windham County | Vermont | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 43.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 44.0% | 43.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.7% | 5.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.6% | 3.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 16.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Windham County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Windham County
Based on the Windham County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Retirees. At a median age of 47.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Windham County borrower sees (free reports).
Budget math at the Windham County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Windham County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,018 gross per month ($72,217 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,056, which is 18% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,532 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Windham County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Windham County resident can confirm its license with the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Vermont: Vermont personal loans.
A Windham County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Windham County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Windham County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Vermont guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windham County a high-income county?
Its $72,217 median ranks 10th of 14 Vermont counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Windham County rent compare with Vermont?
$1,056 locally versus $1,234 for the state, 14% below.
Which towns does the Windham County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 32 Census places: Brattleboro, Rockingham, Bellows Falls, West Brattleboro, Vernon.
Will a Windham County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Vermont as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Windham County check a lender's license?
With the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.