Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornish vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Cornish | Sheldon | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,816Lowest |
2,267 |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Cornish 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% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Cornish 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Sheldon 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 | Cornish School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.