Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Windham vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Windham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992 |
19,188Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Windham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 14 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.