Compare towns
Northfield vs Middlebury 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Northfield | Middlebury | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
9,175Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Middlebury 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Middlebury 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Middlebury 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% |
10.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.