Compare towns
Berlin vs Hanson vs Middlesex vs Pownal
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).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
10,660Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Pownal 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest 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% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% 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±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% 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. |
$3,560Lowest 14% 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% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pownal 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 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. |
21 min 20% below 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% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Pownal 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Whitman-Hanson | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | 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.