Compare towns
Chester vs Berlin vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Berlin | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,880 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.