Compare towns
Brandon vs Colrain 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (11.7%).
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 | Brandon | Colrain | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,627Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Brandon 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%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Berlin 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% |
37.3%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% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Colrain 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. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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 | Mohawk Trail | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | 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 |
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.