Compare towns
Berlin vs Upton vs Chester 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Brandon has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Upton | Chester | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
8,189Highest |
2,992 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Brandon 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Brandon 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest 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±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Brandon 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% 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% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Green Mountain Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
8.7Lowest |
9.9 |
| 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.