Compare towns
Middlesex vs Brookline vs Westminster vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brookline has the most renters (15.1% rent).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Brookline | Westminster | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
531Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Westminster and Berlin 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% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Berlin 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 VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 35% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
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| 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.