Compare towns

Berlin vs Danville vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.

MeasureBerlinDanvilleMiddlesexBrandon
People
Population
2,880
2,360
1,943Lowest
4,120Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+6.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.6±2.4
17% above VT
53.1±6Highest
23% above VT
44.4±3.9Lowest
3% above VT
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%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.9%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex 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%
24.7%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.7
VT: 7%
Middlesex 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
$70,946±$7k
13% below VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below VT
Middlesex 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
$275,800±$43k
13% below VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$227,800±$23kLowest
28% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
5% below VT
—
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
$1,064±$225Lowest
14% below VT
Middlesex and Berlin 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
$4,358
14% below VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$4,241Lowest
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
9.5%±11.4
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1986Highest
10 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
27 min
17% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
VT: 16.9%
18.7%±9.5
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Danville 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 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town None in town — None in town Otter Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
9.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.