Compare towns
Brandon vs Epping vs Berlin 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
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Berlin | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
7,430Highest |
2,880Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 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+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Epping and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #77 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Epping School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Epping High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.3 |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.