Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Phippsburg
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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Phippsburg has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
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 | Middlesex | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.3±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Phippsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$107,833±$19k 34% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$335,800±$47k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Phippsburg 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±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,022±$346Lowest 28% 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,034Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.5%±98.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Phippsburg 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| 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 |
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.

