Compare towns
Middlesex vs Penobscot 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%).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Penobscot | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,154Lowest |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Berlin 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% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Penobscot 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% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot 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% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$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. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Lowest 19% 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. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Penobscot 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 | Penobscot Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.