Compare towns
Berlin vs Whitingham vs Proctor 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 highest household income ($87k).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Whitingham | Proctor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,368Lowest |
1,794 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Berlin and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Proctor 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Berlin 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% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
8.7Highest |
8.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.