Compare towns
Berlin vs Wheelock vs Chester vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Chester has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Wheelock | Chester | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
717Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Wheelock and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Wheelock 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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 VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 14% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.