Compare towns
Berlin vs Sidney 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).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Sidney | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
4,790Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest 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% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Berlin 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Sidney 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 18 | 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.