Compare towns
Berlin vs Berwick vs Mapleton 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
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Berlin | Berwick | Mapleton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,998 |
1,884Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$323,300±$36kHighest about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Berwick 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #101 of 133 in ME | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
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.