Compare towns
Smithfield vs Berlin vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Smithfield | Berlin | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 856 |
2,880Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mercer and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,917±$27kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$71,107±$2kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,800±$15k 27% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$238,500±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$358Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,422±$249Highest about the U.S. average |
| Mercer and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,866 8% below U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,970Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±45.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±74Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Mercer 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.