Compare towns
Northfield vs Sheffield 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 most renters (26.5% rent).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
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 | Sheffield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
190Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
13.2%±14Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| 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 18% below VT |
$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Sheffield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Berlin 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% |
8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Berlin 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.