Compare towns
Chester vs Epping vs Berlin vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Chester | Epping | Berlin | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
7,430Highest |
2,880Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% 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 | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% 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 | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Pownal 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #77 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Epping School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.