Compare towns
Berlin vs Highgate vs Plainfield vs Sheldon
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Plainfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,528Highest |
1,314Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Highgate 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% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Berlin and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Berlin 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.