Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Whiting vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Whiting | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,314 |
532Lowest |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 7% below VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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 | 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.