Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Berlin vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Bellows Falls | Berlin | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891 |
2,880Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Berlin and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448 12% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.