Compare towns
Chester vs Reading vs Brandon vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Brandon | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
699Lowest |
4,120Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
VT 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.