Compare towns
Northfield vs Smithville 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).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Smithville | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,525Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 18% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% 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±$207 28% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,254Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Smithville 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% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
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.