Compare towns
Berlin vs White River Junction vs Williston vs Chester
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | White River Junction | Williston | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
3,364 |
10,144Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.