Compare towns
Northfield vs Keene vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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 | Northfield | Keene | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
22,939Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Keene and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Keene School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| 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.