Compare towns
Berlin vs Mendon vs Plainfield
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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% 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 | Mendon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
| Mendon 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Mendon 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 VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Mendon 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 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Mendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.