Compare towns
Middlesex vs Smithville vs Dummerston 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%).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Smithville | Dummerston | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,525Lowest |
2,090 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithville 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 36% above U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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. |
$4,254Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithville and Dummerston 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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.