Compare towns
Berlin vs Dummer vs Stark 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).
Dummer has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Dummer | Stark | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
299Lowest |
419 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Stark and Dummer 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummer 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Stark 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% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$71,750±$23k 11% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dummer 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±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | — | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark and Berlin 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Stark 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 | — | Stark School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.