Compare towns
Berlin vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Lyme | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,710Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Lyme 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Lyme 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 |
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.