Compare towns
Berlin vs Pownal vs Reading
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).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Pownal | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,265Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
49±9.1Lowest 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Reading 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 VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Berlin and Reading 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 |
$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 |
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.