Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Derby vs Windham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Derby | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992 |
4,537Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Derby 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% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Derby 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% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±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±$21k 7% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham 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 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
— |
| Berlin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Windham 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.