Compare towns
Middlesex vs Brattleboro vs Ossipee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Brattleboro | Ossipee | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
12,122Highest |
4,521 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Ossipee 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% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Ossipee 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% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Ossipee 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% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Ossipee 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. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Ossipee 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. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Ossipee 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. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Brattleboro 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% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | #100 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.