Compare towns

Berlin vs Newfields 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 renters (12.1% rent).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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.

MeasureBerlinNewfieldsPownal
People
Population
2,880
2,023Lowest
3,265Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
49±9.1
26% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields 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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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 U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$64,163±$21kLowest
21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$256,600±$32kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,560Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pownal and Newfields 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 Newfields School District 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.