Compare towns
Berlin vs Reading vs Chester 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Reading | Chester | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
699Lowest |
2,992 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest 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±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Berlin and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Brandon 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 6 photos → | 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.