Compare towns
Brandon vs Mapleton vs Union 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Union | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%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% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Berlin 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 32% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Berlin 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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.