Compare towns
Chester vs Ware 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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Ware | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
10,048Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Berlin 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Ware 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. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Ware 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Ware 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Ware | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.