Compare towns
Berlin vs Calais 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 the most renters (12.1% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Calais | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,713Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Calais 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 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Calais and Berlin 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Pownal 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.