Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon vs Ripton vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 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 | Berlin | Brandon | Ripton | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,120Highest |
508Lowest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Ripton 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±$23k 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,096±$305 11% below VT |
| Berlin and Clarendon 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 |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Clarendon 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| 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.