Compare towns
Northfield vs Middlesex vs Plainfield 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,943 |
1,314Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above 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 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$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 | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest 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 | #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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.