Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Guildhall
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 people working from home (14%).
Guildhall has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992Highest |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
42.6±7.8Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall 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% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest 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 |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
| Guildhall 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±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$321,200±$62kHighest about the VT average |
| Guildhall 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±$44 22% below VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% 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 | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,625Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Berlin 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | — |
| 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 History | 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.