Compare towns
Berlin vs Royalton 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 kids (16.6% under 18).
Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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 | Royalton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,752Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Royalton 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% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest 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% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Chester 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 VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Royalton 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 14% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Berlin and Royalton 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 |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Royalton 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 |
$4,675Highest 7% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Royalton 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.