Compare towns
Berlin vs Pittsfield vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Pittsfield has the most renters (23.8% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Pittsfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
391Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest 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%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above 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±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Pittsfield 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Pittsfield 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.