Compare towns
Chester vs Limerick vs Springfield 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
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Limerick | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
3,400 |
9,084Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
40.4±9.2Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
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% |
18.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Limerick and Springfield 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% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 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% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 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. |
$101,172±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Limerick 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. |
$269,400±$29k 19% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Limerick 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. |
$1,758±$407Highest 24% above U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$2,520Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Limerick and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | Springfield High School | None in town |
| 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.