Compare towns
Berlin vs Dummerston vs Ossipee vs Chester
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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Dummerston | Ossipee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,090Lowest |
4,521Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Ossipee 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Ossipee 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% |
24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest 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. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Ossipee 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Dummerston 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. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| 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.