Compare towns
Berlin vs Hanson vs Middlesex vs Danville
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Danville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Hanson | Middlesex | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
10,660Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
53.1±6Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Danville and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Middlesex 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% |
19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Danville 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Hanson 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 U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$70,946±$7kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Hanson 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. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$275,800±$43k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Hanson 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,358Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.5%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Berlin 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±9.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Danville 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Whitman-Hanson | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.