Compare towns
Chester vs Middlesex vs Springfield vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,943Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.