Compare towns
Berlin vs Dummerston vs Sutton vs Chester
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Sutton has the most renters (15% 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 | Dummerston | Sutton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,090 |
790Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Sutton 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| 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 12% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.