Compare towns
Chester vs Ogunquit vs Berlin 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
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Berlin | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,379Lowest |
2,880 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Chester 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,169±$171Highest 17% 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 | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Berlin 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| 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.