Compare towns
Berlin vs Proctor 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 most expensive homes ($274k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Proctor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,794Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| 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±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.