Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornwall vs Exeter vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Cornwall | Exeter | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,208Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Cornwall 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.