Compare towns
Middlesex vs Fairlee vs Dover 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Fairlee | Dover | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,066Lowest |
1,466 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| 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 29% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 | — | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.