Compare towns
Middlesex vs Colchester 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 the most people working from home (28.4%).
Colchester has the most renters (25.9% rent).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Colchester | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
17,648Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| 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% |
19.1%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Colchester 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% |
17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Colchester 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 |
$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Colchester 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 |
$1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
| Colchester 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 |
$5,471 9% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Colchester and Berlin 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 15% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Colchester 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 | — | #18 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Colchester School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Colchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.