Compare towns
Berlin vs Calais vs Middlesex vs Springfield
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Berlin | Calais | Middlesex | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest 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 |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest 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% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$21k 7% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
| 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% 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% |
15.1%±5.5 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 | — | — | #64 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 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.