Compare towns
Berlin vs Putnam vs Middlesex vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Putnam | Middlesex | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
540Lowest |
1,943 |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.3±4.1 34% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Clarendon 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Clarendon 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1Lowest 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. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$59,609±$12kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$220,900±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$305Lowest 22% 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,740 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Clarendon and Berlin 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.