Compare towns
Berlin vs Cavendish 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 the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
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 | Cavendish | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,242Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Berlin and Cavendish 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% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Cavendish 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% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Cavendish and Berlin 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 |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Cavendish and Northfield 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 |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Berlin 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 | 12 photos → | 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.