Compare towns
Middlesex vs Webster vs Berlin vs Montpelier
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 highest household income ($110k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Montpelier has the shortest commute (18 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 | Webster | Berlin | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
17,748Highest |
2,880 |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Montpelier 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Montpelier 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Webster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.