Compare towns
Berlin vs Derby vs Plainfield vs Pownal
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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,537Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Derby 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Plainfield School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.