Compare towns
Berlin vs Springfield vs Chapman 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Chapman | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
9,084Highest |
388Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Chapman 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Middlesex 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% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chapman 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. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 6% 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs 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. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.