Compare towns
Brandon vs Orwell 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%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Orwell | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,294Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Brandon 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% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Orwell 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Orwell 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 |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.