Compare towns
Chester vs Cornish vs Berlin vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% 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 | Chester | Cornish | Berlin | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,816Lowest |
2,880 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin 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% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin 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. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Cornish School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.