Compare towns
Berlin vs Ogunquit vs Pownal vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Pownal | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,379Lowest |
3,265 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Montpelier 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Montpelier and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
— | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Montpelier 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Montpelier 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.