Compare towns
Berlin vs Braintree vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Berlin | Braintree | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,026Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Berlin and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% 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 | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Northfield 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.