Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Sunapee vs Chester
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%).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Sunapee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
3,416Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Chester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sunapee 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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sunapee School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.