Compare towns
Brandon vs Salisbury vs Springfield 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 the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Salisbury | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,200Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Springfield 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 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 |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Salisbury and Berlin 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 |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Salisbury and Berlin 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 |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.