Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Williamstown vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Castleton has the most renters (21% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Castleton | Williamstown | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,579 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williamstown 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±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Berlin and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Williamstown 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.