Compare towns
Berlin vs Thornton 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 most kids (16.6% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,799Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Chester 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thornton School District | 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 Our Story | 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.