Compare towns
Berlin vs Olean 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
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Olean | Pownal | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
13,738Highest |
3,265 |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 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% |
29.9% 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% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Montpelier 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±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Montpelier 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$944±$139 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montpelier 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #67 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.