Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Ossipee vs Worcester
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Ossipee | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,943 |
4,521Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Ossipee 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Ossipee 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Ossipee 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Ossipee 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Ossipee 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.