Compare towns
Northfield vs Reading vs Ripton 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield 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 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.