Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
2,522 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.