Compare towns
Berlin vs Danville vs Highgate vs Brandon
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).
Danville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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 | Danville | Highgate | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,360Lowest |
3,528 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+6.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Danville 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% |
18.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Danville 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% |
24.7%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Danville 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% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Highgate 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 |
$70,946±$7k 13% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Berlin and Highgate 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 |
$275,800±$43k 13% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Danville 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 |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% 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 |
$4,358 14% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
9.5%±11.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±9.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Danville and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| 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.