Compare towns
Halifax vs Plainfield vs Berlin vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Halifax | Plainfield | Berlin | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,314 |
2,880Highest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
| Marlboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 10% below VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Marlboro 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 | Halifax School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Marlboro School District |
| 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 | 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.