Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon vs Strafford
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,120Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Berlin and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Brandon 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| 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.