Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Middlesex vs Rumney
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
2,880Highest |
1,943 |
1,458Lowest |
| 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% |
+1.2% 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. |
44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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% |
24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Rumney 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% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Rumney 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. |
$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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. |
$4,716 51% 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% |
48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8% 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. |
1976Lowest 4 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. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 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 | Rumney School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.