Compare towns

Northfield vs Sullivan 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).
Sullivan has the highest household income ($107k).
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.

MeasureNorthfieldSullivanBerlin
People
Population
5,920Highest
687Lowest
2,880
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
46.6±6.5
20% above U.S.
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
Berlin and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±5
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Berlin and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Sullivan 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%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$106,667±$20kHighest
32% above U.S.
$86,691±$21k
7% above U.S.
Sullivan 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±$21kHighest
18% below U.S.
$236,500±$29kLowest
29% 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±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,225±$275Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
Sullivan and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$5,099Highest
63% above U.S.
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±84.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.2%±2.5Lowest
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.