Compare towns

Middlesex vs Southampton 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 the most people working from home (28.4%).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexSouthamptonDummerstonBerlin
People
Population
1,943Lowest
6,230Highest
2,090
2,880
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
43.4±3.5Lowest
12% 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%
19.1%±4
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%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.8
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%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Southampton 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.
$123,125±$23kHighest
53% above U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$86,691±$21kLowest
7% above U.S.
Southampton 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.
$452,300±$25kHighest
36% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$273,600±$31kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
—
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,169±$171Lowest
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.
$5,470
75% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.2%±18.4
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Dummerston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
22 min
15% below 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%
8.2%±3.6Lowest
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 — #205 of 282 in MA — #16 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Southampton 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 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.