Compare towns
Berlin vs Calais vs Chester vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Berlin | Calais | Chester | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,713 |
2,992Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.