Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon vs Fairfield
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 most people working from home (11.7%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,120Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Fairfield 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 |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Berlin 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Brandon 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.