Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Townshend vs Windham
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).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Townshend | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,314 |
1,538 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Townshend 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Windham 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin 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 VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Windham and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.