Compare towns
Berlin vs Appleton vs Clarendon 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
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 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 | Berlin | Appleton | Clarendon | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,360Lowest |
2,460 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
52.3±4.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$59,609±$12k 26% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$220,900±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,096±$305 22% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,740 20% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Appleton 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Appleton Public Schools | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4Lowest |
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.