Compare towns
Chester vs Ossipee 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
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Ossipee has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Chester | Ossipee | Brandon | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,521Highest |
4,120 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Brandon 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% |
26.3%±5.9 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 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±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% 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. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Brandon 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% |
8.1% 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% |
82%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 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
— |
| 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.