Compare towns
Middlesex vs Proctor vs Jay 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 expensive homes ($376k median).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Proctor | Jay | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,794 |
471Lowest |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Jay and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Proctor 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| 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 35% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Jay 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.