Compare towns
Berlin vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
10,681Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 18% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.