Compare towns
Plainfield vs Berlin vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Plainfield | Berlin | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
2,880 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.