Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon vs Springfield
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%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,120Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Lowest 29% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 18% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Springfield 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. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.