Compare towns
Berlin vs Pownal vs Sutton vs Brandon
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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 | Pownal | Sutton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
3,265 |
9,452Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Brandon 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% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Brandon 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% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Sutton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Sutton | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.