Compare towns
Fayston vs Berlin vs South Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Fayston | Berlin | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342Lowest |
2,880Highest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5Lowest 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| South Hero and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fayston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28k 36% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82k 59% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| South Hero and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,439±$221 17% above VT |
| Fayston and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689 33% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21 VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Fayston 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.