Compare towns
Berlin vs Marshfield vs Middlesex vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Marshfield | Middlesex | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
470Lowest |
1,943 |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$220,900±$32k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,096±$305Lowest 11% below VT |
| 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 12% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,740 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school 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 |
VT 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.