Compare towns
Brandon vs Appleton vs Chittenden vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Chittenden has the most people working from home (15%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Brandon | Appleton | Chittenden | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,360 |
1,318Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 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+ | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$106,250±$28kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$346,800±$35kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,346Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chittenden 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Appleton Public Schools | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.