Compare towns
Berlin vs Durham vs Middlesex vs Chester
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
15,080Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below 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±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Durham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Oyster River Coop School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.