Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Tompkins
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 the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Tompkins has the most affordable homes ($186k 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 | Tompkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,943 |
1,187Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
57.6±5.8Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Tompkins 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% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest 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% |
30.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Tompkins and Berlin 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% |
18.8%Lowest 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% |
3.9%±2Lowest 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±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$61,103±$27kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$185,700±$23kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$483±$80Lowest 66% 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. |
$2,487Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
70 minHighest 166% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±13.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Tompkins 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 |
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.