Compare towns
Middlesex vs Starks vs Mapleton 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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Starks | Mapleton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
556Lowest |
1,884 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Mapleton 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. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Mapleton 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. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.