Compare towns

Berlin vs Chester vs Wolfeboro

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 most kids (16.6% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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.

MeasureBerlinChesterWolfeboro
People
Population
2,880Lowest
2,992
6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Lowest
28% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Berlin and Chester 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%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro 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%
45%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
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.
$94,375±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Wolfeboro 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.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171Highest
17% below U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,103±$76
22% below U.S.
Berlin and Wolfeboro 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.
$4,531Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Wolfeboro 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro 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 #46 of 120 in NH
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town Green Mountain Union High School Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7Lowest
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.