Compare towns
Danville vs Berlin vs Bethel vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bethel has the most renters (16.4% rent).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Danville | Berlin | Bethel | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,360 |
2,880 |
1,736Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
| Danville and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Danville and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest 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 | $70,946±$7k 13% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Berlin and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,800±$43kHighest 13% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Danville and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Bethel and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,358 14% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 9.5%±11.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±9.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Danville 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.