Compare towns
Berlin vs Barnet vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Barnet | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,855Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Berlin and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Berlin and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal and Barnet 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 Our Story | 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.