Compare towns
Berlin vs Halifax vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($87k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Halifax | Plainfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
847Lowest |
1,314 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Plainfield 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 | Halifax 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 → |
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.