Compare towns

Berlin vs Pownal vs Windsor

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 people working from home (16.4%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

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.

MeasureBerlinPownalWindsor
People
Population
2,880
3,265Highest
2,060Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
VT: +2.8%
-7.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
49±9.1
14% above VT
44.6±12.3Lowest
3% above 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%
21.1%±8.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
Windsor 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%
29.2%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windsor 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%
40%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.5
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
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±$21kHighest
7% above VT
$64,163±$21k
21% below VT
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below VT
Berlin and Pownal 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±$32k
19% below VT
$170,300±$22kLowest
46% below VT
Berlin and Pownal 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
$1,002±$107
19% below VT
Berlin and Windsor 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
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
48.4%±18.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.4%±20Lowest
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%
7.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
51.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
10% below VT
21 min
10% below VT
22 minHighest
6% below VT
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
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 #61 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 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.