Compare towns
Berlin vs Ira vs Putney
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 highest household income ($87k).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Ira | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
381Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Ira 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 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Putney 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Berlin and Putney 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 |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Berlin 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.