Compare towns
Berlin vs Derby vs Middlesex vs Plainfield
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Derby | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,537Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby 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% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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. |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.