Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Ogunquit vs Reading
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 most affordable homes ($233k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Ogunquit | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992Highest |
1,379 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Reading 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% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 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% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Reading 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. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest 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. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Reading 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.