Compare towns
Chester vs Mapleton vs Washburn 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
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Mapleton | Washburn | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7 24% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 32% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% 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 | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
— |
| 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.