Compare towns
Chester vs Gorham vs Berlin vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Gorham | Berlin | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,682 |
2,880 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Chester 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% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Berlin and Chester 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. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Gorham 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.0Highest |
— | — |
| 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.