Compare towns
Chester vs Monroe 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%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Monroe | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
786Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe 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% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Berlin 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. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Monroe 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. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monroe 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest 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 | Monroe School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.