Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon vs Rochester
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 highest household income ($87k).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,120Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Berlin 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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 VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Berlin and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Berlin and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.