Compare towns
Berlin vs Highgate vs Williamstown 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Highgate | Williamstown | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Williamstown 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Highgate and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5 |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.