Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs West Windsor vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | West Windsor | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084Highest |
1,171Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| West Windsor 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| West Windsor 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| West Windsor 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and West Windsor 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| West Windsor 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 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.