Compare towns
Berlin vs Rutland 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Rutland has the most renters (45.1% rent).
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 | Rutland | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
15,712Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49±2.1Lowest 14% above VT |
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% |
15.5%±2.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Rutland 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% |
26.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
33.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Berlin and Chester 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 |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% 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 |
$995±$65 19% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Rutland 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 |
$4,657Highest 8% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±8.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rutland and Berlin 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% |
15.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% 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 min 10% below VT |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest 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 | #51 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rutland City School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Rutland Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.