Compare towns
Berlin vs Williamson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Williamson has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Chester has the most renters (13.3% rent).
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 | Williamson | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
6,823Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±4.2Lowest 5% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamson 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% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest 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% |
34.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Williamson 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. |
$90,515±$14kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Williamson 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±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$192,700±$18kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester 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. |
$5,172Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Williamson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamson 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 | #221 of 484 in NY | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.3Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| 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.