Compare towns
Chester vs Unity vs Berlin vs Ludlow
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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Berlin has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Unity | Berlin | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,375Lowest |
2,880 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
| Unity and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Chester 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Ludlow 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow 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±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Unity School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 4 photos → | 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.