Compare towns
Berlin vs Calais vs Epping vs Chester
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Berlin | Calais | Epping | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,713Lowest |
7,430Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% 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%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Epping and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Epping and Calais 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. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Calais 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Calais 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Epping School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.