Compare towns
Brandon vs Plainfield vs Berlin vs Chittenden
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 most affordable homes ($228k median).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Plainfield | Berlin | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,522 |
2,880 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Berlin 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Chittenden 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.