Compare towns
Middlesex vs Bolton vs Berlin vs Worcester
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).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Bolton | Berlin | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,163 |
2,880Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Berlin and Worcester 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% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Bolton 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 19% above VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Bolton 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% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.