Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon vs Mapleton vs Barre
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Barre has the most people working from home (13.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,120 |
1,884Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2 24% 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 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S. |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Barre and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$281,400±$13kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Brandon 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% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| 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 |
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.