Compare towns
Berlin vs Winhall 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).
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 | Winhall | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
752Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
48.9±6.1Lowest 13% 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%±6.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Winhall 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest 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% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±4Lowest 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±$21k 7% above VT |
$95,500±$23kHighest 18% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Winhall 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 |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Winhall 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 |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Winhall 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Winhall 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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 |
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.