Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Hooksett vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Brandon | Chester | Hooksett | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
2,992 |
15,057Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% 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 | 19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 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+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Hooksett 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
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| 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.