Compare towns
Berlin vs Douglas vs Webster vs Chester
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).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Douglas | Webster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
9,207 |
17,748Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±4.7 28% 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Douglas 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Webster 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. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Douglas | Webster | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.