Compare towns

Berlin vs Pownal vs Wright

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Wright has the most renters (19.4% rent).

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.

MeasureBerlinPownalWright
People
Population
2,880
3,265Highest
1,739Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
49±9.1Lowest
26% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Wright 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
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wright 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
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±1.9Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.4%Lowest
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%
2.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Berlin and Wright 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 U.S.
$64,163±$21kLowest
21% below U.S.
$86,250±$13k
7% above U.S.
Berlin and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,600±$31kHighest
18% below U.S.
$256,600±$32k
23% below U.S.
$242,000±$36kLowest
27% below U.S.
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
17% below U.S.
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
$953±$79
33% below U.S.
Berlin and Wright 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.
$5,279Highest
69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.6%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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

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.