Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs South Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
South Barre has the shortest commute (15 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 | Middlesex | South Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,943 |
1,346Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT |
| South Barre 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
34.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$78,050±$16kLowest 4% 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±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$257,600±$25kLowest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT |
| South Barre and Middlesex 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±40.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and South Barre 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
15 minLowest 36% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and South Barre 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.