Compare towns
Berlin vs Putnam 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%).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Putnam | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
540Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Chester 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% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Chester 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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.