Compare towns
Middlesex vs Holbrook 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 the most people working from home (28.4%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Holbrook | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
11,380Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Holbrook 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 36% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% 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. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holbrook 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%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 min 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #234 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Holbrook | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.