Compare towns
Chester vs Hardwick vs Berlin
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 people working from home (14%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Hardwick | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,965 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Hardwick 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 26% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| 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 15% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Hardwick 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.