Compare towns
Windham vs Brandon vs Berlin vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Windham | Brandon | Berlin | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
4,120Highest |
2,880 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 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+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 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 | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.