Compare towns
Berlin vs Dummerston vs Rumney 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
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 | Dummerston | Rumney | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,090 |
1,458Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Rumney 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Rumney 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. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,444±$21k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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 18% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Rumney 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,064±$100 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Berlin 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,716Highest 51% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Rumney 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rumney School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None 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.