Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Middlesex vs Springfield
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992 |
1,943Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Springfield 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| 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.