Compare towns
Northfield vs Surry 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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Surry | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,052Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Berlin 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% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Surry 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% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Surry 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 11% below U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Surry 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 18% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% 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 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Northfield 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.