Compare towns
Berlin vs Brookline vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Brookline | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
531Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.