Compare towns
Berlin vs Northfield vs Middlesex vs Danville
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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Danville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Northfield | Middlesex | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
5,920Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
| Danville 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Danville 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.7%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Danville 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,946±$7kLowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$275,800±$43k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,358Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
9.5%±11.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±9.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Danville 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.