Compare towns
Brandon vs Hardwick vs Wallingford 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Wallingford has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Hardwick | Wallingford | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,965 |
2,286Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% 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%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Wallingford 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 |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$891±$95 28% 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Hardwick 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.