Compare towns
Berlin vs Peterborough vs Middlesex
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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Peterborough | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
6,408Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest 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% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest 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±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Peterborough 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. |
$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Peterborough and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Peterborough 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Peterborough 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.