Compare towns
Windham vs Worcester 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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Berlin | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
831 |
2,880 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 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+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest 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% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Berlin and Worcester 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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 | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.