Compare towns

Bangor vs Berlin vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureBangorBerlinMiddlesex
People
Population
31,938Highest
2,880
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41±1.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,942±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$86,691±$21k
7% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$219,600±$10kLowest
34% below U.S.
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,055±$43Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,076Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bangor and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
10.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #37 of 133 in ME #16 of 70 in VT —
School district Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Bangor High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.3
— —
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.