Compare towns
Berlin vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Salisbury | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,609Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest 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. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex 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. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Salisbury 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. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Salisbury 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.