Compare towns
Brandon vs Middlesex vs Berlin vs Pittsford
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Pittsford has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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 | Middlesex | Berlin | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,880 |
2,892 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±6.3 11% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Pittsford 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$69,705±$7k 14% below 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$197,000±$33kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$781±$167Lowest 37% 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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 |
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.