Compare towns
Berlin vs Chester vs Wright 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 most expensive homes ($274k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Wright has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Wright | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,992 |
1,739Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Wright and Berlin 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% |
16.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Wright 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% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest 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% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 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±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$86,250±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$242,000±$36k 27% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$953±$79Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Brandon 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. |
$5,279Highest 69% 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% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%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% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
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.