Compare towns
Middlesex vs Dalton 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%).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Dalton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
6,256Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dalton 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.