What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($215k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berlin	Middlesex
People
Population	1,960Highest	1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±5.3Lowest 6% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,313±$25kLowest about the U.S. average	$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	$214,600±$22kLowest 35% below U.S.	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,160±$309Lowest 18% 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	$3,518Lowest 13% above U.S.	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.7%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	BERLIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	BERLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.