Compare towns
Middlesex vs Rochester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,389Lowest |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Rochester 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 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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 VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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 |
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.