Compare towns
Middlesex vs Berlin vs Montpelier vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Berlin | Montpelier | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,880 |
8,014Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford 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 35% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.