Compare towns
Berlin vs Fair Haven 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).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Fair Haven | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,724Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Berlin 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 |
$830±$116Lowest 33% 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 |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Berlin 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.