Compare towns
Chester vs Weston vs Berlin vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Weston has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Weston | Berlin | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
685 |
2,880 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
60.5±7Highest 40% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
44.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Weston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$537,700±$77kHighest 70% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,375±$729Highest 11% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
— |
| Weston and Berlin 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 |
$7,076Highest 40% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
31.2%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Weston and Windham 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.