Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Barre 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Barre has the most homeowners (88.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Barre | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,522Lowest |
8,005Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±4.2 24% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Barre 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,737 52% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs 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. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.