Compare towns
Appleton vs Pownal vs Liberty
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Liberty has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Pownal | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,265Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
$71,146±$15kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Liberty and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Pownal and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$944±$139 33% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Liberty 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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 |
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.