Compare towns
Chester vs Exeter vs Brandon 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Chester | Exeter | Brandon | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
16,151Highest |
4,120 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% 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 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brandon 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% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Exeter High School | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
9.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.