Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Stratton vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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 | Chester | Stratton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992 |
532Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 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+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Stratton 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 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Stratton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.