Compare towns
Berlin vs Pownal vs Royalton
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 most expensive homes ($274k median).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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 | Pownal | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,265Highest |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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 VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Berlin and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Berlin and Royalton 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 |
$4,675Highest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.