Compare towns
Middlesex vs Windham vs Calais 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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Calais has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Windham | Calais | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
16,038Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Calais 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Calais 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Calais 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.