Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Danville
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Danville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992Highest |
2,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
| Danville 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% |
18.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Danville and Berlin 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.7%±3.9Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$70,946±$7k 13% below VT |
| Berlin and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$275,800±$43kHighest 13% below VT |
| Danville 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 5% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— |
| Berlin and Chester 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,358 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
9.5%±11.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Chester 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±9.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Danville and Chester 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.