Compare towns
Berlin vs Dover vs Stratton vs Middlesex
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).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Dover | Stratton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,466 |
532Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Middlesex 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Berlin 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Stratton 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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 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.