Compare towns
Berlin vs Lancaster vs Middlesex vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Middlesex | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
8,606Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
52.3±4.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Clarendon 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Clarendon 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$59,609±$12kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$220,900±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$305Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,740Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Clarendon 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Middlesex 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Nashoba | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.