Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Highgate
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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
2,992 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest 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±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Berlin and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.