Compare towns
Brandon vs Fair Haven vs Middlesex vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Fair Haven | Middlesex | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,724 |
1,943Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| 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%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest 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+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven 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 VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above 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 | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% 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 | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.