Compare towns
Brandon vs Fairfield 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 the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,938Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Brandon 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Fairfield 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 VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Fairfield 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 28% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% 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 | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 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 | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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 |
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.