Compare towns

Berlin vs Brandon vs Ogunquit 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pownal has the youngest population (median age 49).

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.

MeasureBerlinBrandonOgunquitPownal
People
Population
2,880
4,120Highest
1,379Lowest
3,265
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
50.1±3.1
29% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
49±9.1Lowest
26% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Brandon 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%
22.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%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%
2.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit 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.
$64,180±$12k
21% below U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$64,163±$21kLowest
21% below U.S.
Ogunquit and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$227,800±$23kLowest
32% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$256,600±$32k
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,064±$225
25% below U.S.
—
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
Berlin and Brandon 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.
$4,241
36% above U.S.
$4,473Highest
43% above U.S.
$3,560Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pownal and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #16 of 70 in VT #69 of 70 in VT — #67 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 — Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town None in town Otter Valley Union High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.