Compare towns
Berlin vs Worcester vs Salisbury vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Worcester | Salisbury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
831Lowest |
1,200 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None 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.