Compare towns
Berlin vs Ashburnham vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most renters (12.1% rent).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Berlin | Ashburnham | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
6,415Highest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Ashburnham 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #178 of 282 in MA | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.