Compare towns
Middlesex vs Fairfax vs Berlin vs Monkton
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%).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Monkton has the most expensive homes ($380k 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 | Fairfax | Berlin | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
5,226Highest |
2,880 |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
| Berlin and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Middlesex 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8 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% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$119,688±$28k 47% above VT |
| Fairfax and Monkton 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 |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
| Monkton and Fairfax 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 |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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 |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,887 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton and Fairfax 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fairfax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.