Compare towns
Berlin vs Highgate vs Cornish 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%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Highgate | Cornish | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,528Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 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% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Highgate 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. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$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. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Highgate 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. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$944±$139 33% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin 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. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Cornish School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.