Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Chester | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992Highest |
2,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| Clarendon and Berlin 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Clarendon 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% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Berlin and Chester 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 |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$305 11% below VT |
| Berlin and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.