Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornish vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
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 | Cornish | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,816Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Cornish 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 | Cornish School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.