Compare towns
Berlin vs Brookfield 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 highest household income ($87k).
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Brookfield | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
567Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
49±9.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%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% |
5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Brookfield 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. |
$428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Pownal 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. |
$5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Berlin 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Brookfield 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 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school 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.