Compare towns
Berlin vs Clarendon vs Wilder vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clarendon has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Clarendon | Wilder | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,460 |
3,087Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Clarendon and Berlin 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% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon and Wilder 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% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,096±$305Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Clarendon 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Wilder 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.