Compare towns
Windham vs Plainfield vs Berlin vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Windham | Plainfield | Berlin | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,314 |
2,880Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Windham and Plainfield 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±$171 5% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.