Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Sutton 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
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Springfield | Sutton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084Highest |
2,239Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Sutton 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. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
10.4 |
— |
| 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.