Compare towns
Berlin vs Thompson vs Middlesex vs Pownal
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%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Thompson | Middlesex | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
9,337Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest 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. |
49±9.1 26% 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% |
16.4%±5.3 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below 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±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% 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% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Pownal 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% |
8.6% 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% |
92.6% 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. |
1969 11 yrs older 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. |
21 min 20% below 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% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Pownal 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thompson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— | — |
| 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.