Compare towns
Berlin vs Springfield vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
9,084 |
10,144Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Berlin and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | 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 |
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.