Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Westminster 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Plainfield | Westminster | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,522Lowest |
2,999 |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$944±$139 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Pownal 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than 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. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.