Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Reading vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Reading | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,943 |
699Lowest |
3,554Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Windsor 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Reading 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 VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% 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 | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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 | 12 photos → |
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.