Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Middlesex | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
2,522 |
1,943Lowest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
52.3±4.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Clarendon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$59,609±$12kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$220,900±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$305Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,740Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.