Compare towns
Chester vs Amsterdam vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Amsterdam has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Chester | Amsterdam | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
18,166Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% 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 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Amsterdam and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 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+ | 33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$56,178±$8kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% 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 | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,369 40% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amsterdam and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #474 of 484 in NY | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.