Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Middlesex | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,407Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
55.3±6Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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% |
18%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$75,750±$21k 6% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$208,100±$62kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,406±$672Highest about the U.S. average |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,459Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | 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.