Compare towns
Berlin vs Hancock 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).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Hancock | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,791Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Hancock 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock 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% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Hancock 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 |
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.