Compare towns

Berlin vs Thompson 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.

MeasureBerlinThompsonMiddlesex
People
Population
2,880
9,337Highest
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
Thompson 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
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Thompson 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%
21.9%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%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
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.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Thompson 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.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% 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.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson 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%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #16 of 70 in VT #130 of 149 in CT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Thompson School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.