Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Upton vs Pownal
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Upton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
2,992 |
8,189Highest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester 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. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% 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% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Pownal 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Pownal 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| 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.