Compare towns
Chester vs Olean 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
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Olean | Berlin | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
13,738Highest |
2,880Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% 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% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Pownal 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$944±$139 33% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%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. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #16 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | OLEAN CITY 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 | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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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.