Compare towns
Berlin vs Eliot 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 most kids (16.6% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Eliot | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
7,146Highest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
49±9.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Eliot 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. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 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.