Compare towns
Berlin vs Standish vs Windham 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).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Standish | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
10,662 |
19,188Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% 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% |
16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 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% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Windham and Standish 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. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$983±$453 30% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Berlin 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 14 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Windham High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
12.1 |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.