Compare towns
Berlin vs Calais vs Middlesex vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Berlin | Calais | Middlesex | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,713 |
1,943 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
| Berlin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
| Peru and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.