Compare towns

Middlesex vs Barnstead 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 people working from home (28.4%).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexBarnsteadBerlin
People
Population
1,943Lowest
4,994Highest
2,880
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
42.8±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±4.8Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Middlesex 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.
$111,660±$12kHighest
38% above U.S.
$86,691±$21kLowest
7% above U.S.
Barnstead and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$362,400±$25k
9% above U.S.
$273,600±$31kLowest
18% below U.S.
Middlesex and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,395±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,169±$171Lowest
17% below U.S.
Barnstead and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$6,003
92% above U.S.
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Barnstead and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #111 of 120 in NH #16 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Barnstead School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.