Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlebury vs Windham 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).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
9,175Highest |
594Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
44.2±7.4 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Middlebury 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Windham 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% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.