Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Hampton vs Brandon
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).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Chester | Hampton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
2,992 |
16,426Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon 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% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Berlin 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. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Winnacunnet High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
10.1Highest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.