Compare towns

Berlin vs Middlesex vs Ware

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 people working from home (28.4%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% 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.

MeasureBerlinMiddlesexWare
People
Population
2,880
1,943Lowest
10,048Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
43.1±4.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%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%
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Ware 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.
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% 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±$31kLowest
18% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$289,700±$28k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% 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.
$4,237Lowest
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Berlin 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%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #16 of 70 in VT — #267 of 282 in MA
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Ware
High school in town None in town None in town Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
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.