Compare towns
Berlin vs Northfield vs Troy
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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Northfield | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
5,920Highest |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Berlin and Troy 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% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy 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±$31k 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Troy School District |
| 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 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.