Compare towns
Berlin vs Pownal vs Stratton
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,265Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±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% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Pownal 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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 14% below VT |
$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Berlin 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal and Berlin 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 | — |
| High school 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.