Compare towns
Plainfield vs Jay vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Jay | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
471Lowest |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Jay and Berlin 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,169±$171Highest 5% 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Plainfield 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 |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.