Compare towns
Brandon vs Waterville 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%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Waterville | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
680Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Waterville 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 |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Waterville 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 |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.