Compare towns
Northfield vs Brookline vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 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 | Northfield | Brookline | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
531Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Brookline and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.