Compare towns
Chester vs Springfield vs Whiting 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Whiting | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,084Highest |
532Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Whiting and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Whiting and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Chester 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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 | 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.