Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon vs Brookfield vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Brandon | Brookfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,120Highest |
1,486Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.