Compare towns
Brookfield vs Berlin vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Brookfield | Berlin | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486Lowest |
2,880Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Berlin and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Calais 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.