Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Middlesex vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Bennington | Berlin | Middlesex | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
2,880Highest |
1,943 |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.4±5.7 19% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below 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 | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,344±$303Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Lisbon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,691 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.