Compare towns
Berlin vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | Middlesex | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,216Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest 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. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.9 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1% 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% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$70,946±$7k 12% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$275,800±$43k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,358 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.5%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 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. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White Mountains Regional 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 | 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.