Compare towns

Berlin vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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.

MeasureBerlinSuttonChester
People
Population
2,880
2,239Lowest
2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
48.1±4.1Lowest
24% 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%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton 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%
21.6%±5.9Lowest
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%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chester and Sutton 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.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Sutton 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±$31k
18% below U.S.
$362,600±$16kHighest
9% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Sutton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Sutton 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%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.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton 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 — #49 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Kearsarge Regional School District Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Highest
8.7Lowest
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.