Compare towns
Middlesex vs Amherst vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Middlesex | Amherst | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
11,861Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 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 | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Middlesex 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 | — | #20 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.