Compare towns
Middlesex vs Westminster vs Reading 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 the highest household income ($110k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Westminster | Reading | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
497Lowest |
699 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 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 |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.